Liquid crystal display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus, andin particular to a liquid crystal display apparatus preferably used formobile information terminals (for example, PDAs), cellular phones,vehicle-mountable liquid crystal display apparatuses, digital cameras,personal computers, amusement devices, TVs and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, liquid crystal display apparatuses are widely used, owing totheir features of being thin and low in power consumption, forinformation devices such as notebook personal computers, cellularphones, electronic personal organizers and the like, and also forcamera-integrated VTRs having a liquid crystal monitor.

As a display mode for realizing a high contrast and a wide viewingangle, a vertical orientation mode using a vertical orientation typeliquid crystal layer has attracted attention. A vertical orientationtype liquid crystal layer is generally formed using a vertical alignmentlayer and a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectricanisotropy.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-301036discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus having improved viewingangle characteristics. This is realized by generating an inclinedelectric field around openings provided in a counter electrode, whichfaces pixel electrodes with a liquid crystal layer interposedtherebetween, and orienting liquid crystal molecules in an inclinedmanner around liquid crystal molecules which are in a verticallyoriented state in the opening.

However, the structure disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 6-301036 has the following problem. It is difficult togenerate an inclined electric field in the entire area in the pixels. Asa result, response of the liquid crystal molecules to a voltageapplication is delayed in some of the areas in the pixels, which causesan afterimage phenomenon.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Laid-Open Patent PublicationNo. 2000-47217 discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus having aplurality of liquid crystal domains exhibiting a radially inclinedorientation in pixels. This is realized by regularly arranging openingsin pixel electrodes or a counter electrode.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-167253 discloses atechnology of regularly arranging a plurality of convexed portions inpixels, and thus stabilizing the orientation state of liquid crystaldomains exhibiting a radially inclined orientation which appears aroundthe convexed portions. This publication discloses that displaycharacteristics can be improved by regulating the orientation of liquidcrystal molecules using an inclined electric field caused by theopenings provided in electrodes as well as by the regulating forceprovided by the convexed portions.

Recently, a liquid crystal display apparatus capable of high qualitydisplay both indoor and outdoor has been proposed (see, for example,Japanese Patent No. 2955277 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,140). Such a liquidcrystal display apparatus, which is referred to as a transflectiveliquid crystal display apparatus, includes a reflective area and atransmissive area in a pixel. In the reflective area, images aredisplayed in a reflective mode, and in the transmissive area, images aredisplayed in a transmissive mode.

Currently commercially available transflective liquid crystal displayapparatuses use an ECB mode or a TN mode, for example. JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-167253 discloses a structure bywhich the vertical orientation mode is applied to a transflective liquidcrystal display apparatus in addition to a structure by which thevertical orientation mode is applied to a transmissive liquid crystaldisplay apparatus. Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-350853discloses a technology for controlling the orientation of liquid crystalmolecules (polyaxial orientation) in a transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus including a vertical orientation type liquid crystallayer. The orientation is controlled by a convexed portion formed in aninsulating layer, which is provided in order to make the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer in the transmissive area twice as great as thethickness of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective area. The convexportion has the shape of, for example, a regular octagon. In thestructure disclosed in this publication, a projection (concaved portion)or a slit (electrode opening) is formed at a position facing theconvexed portion with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.(See, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-350853, FIGS.4 and 16).

Japanese Laid-Open Publications Nos. 2003-167253 and 2003-315083describe a technology for realizing a radially inclined orientation ofliquid crystal molecules in liquid crystal domains by forming convexedportions on a surface of a substrate closer to the side of the liquidcrystal layer. It is also described that the radially inclinedorientation is stabilized in the state where a voltage is applied, bythe effect provided by the convexed portions formed on the substrate andby the orientation regulating structure provided in the other substrate.

According to the technology disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open PublicationsNos. 2000-47217 and 2003-167253, convexed portions or openings areprovided in pixels to form a plurality of liquid crystal domains (i.e.,to divide each pixel into a plurality of areas), so that the orientationregulating force on the liquid crystal molecules is strengthened. Astudy performed by the present inventor has found that in order toobtain a sufficient orientation regulating force, it is necessary toform an orientation regulating structure such as convexed portions,openings or the like on both sides of the liquid crystal layer (i.e.,regions which are on surfaces of a pair of substrates facing each other,the surfaces being closer to the liquid crystal layer). Such a structurecomplicates the production process. An orientation regulating structureprovided in the pixels may reduce the effective numerical aperture ofthe pixels, or reduce the contrast ratio due to light leakage from anarea around the convexed portions in the pixels. In the case where theorientation regulating structure is provided on both sides of the liquidcrystal layer, the reduction in the effective numerical aperture and/orthe reduction in the contrast ratio is more conspicuous because of theinfluence of the alignment margin of the substrates.

With the technology disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent PublicationNo. 2002-350853, it is necessary to provide convexed portions orelectrode openings on the opposite side to the concaved portions, whichare provided for controlling the polyaxial orientation. This causes thesame problems as described above.

With the technology disclosed by Japanese Laid-Open Patent PublicationNo. 2000-47217, 2003-167253, 2002-350853 or 2003-315803, there are thefollowing problems even when the orientation regulating structure isprovided in both of the substrates: response to gray scale display isslow; and/or it takes a long time until an afterimage, generated when apanel surface is pressed, disappears. It is difficult to use suchtechnology for mobile-use liquid crystal display apparatuses.

The present invention, for solving the above-described problems, has anobjective of providing a liquid crystal display apparatus having aplurality of radially inclined orientation domains in a pixel, whichsufficiently stabilizes the orientation of liquid crystal molecules andthus realizes display quality equivalent to, or higher than, the displayquality provided by the conventional apparatuses, with a relativelysimple structure of having an orientation regulating structure for aradially inclined orientation in only one substrate.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a liquidcrystal display apparatus which further stabilizes the orientation ofthe liquid crystal molecules, and realizes a faster response in grayscale display or requires a shorter time until an afterimage, generatedwhen the panel surface is pressed, disappears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystaldisplay apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrateprovided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment typeliquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate; a plurality of pixel areas each including a first electrodeprovided on the first substrate, a second electrode provided on thesecond substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided between thefirst electrode and the second electrode; and a wall structure regularlyarranged on a surface of the first electrode closer to the liquidcrystal layer. The liquid crystal layer, when being provided with atleast a prescribed voltage, forms at least one liquid crystal domainexhibiting a radially inclined orientation in an area substantiallysurrounded by the wall structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first electrode has a pluralityof openings or cut-out portions at prescribed positions, and the wallstructure includes a first wall portion formed in the plurality ofopenings or cut-out portions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of openings or cut-outportions each include a rectangular portion, and the wall structureincludes the first wall portion provided parallel to the rectangularportion.

In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of openings or cut-outportions each include a rectangular portion, and the wall structureincludes a second wall portion extended from the first wall portion.

In one embodiment of the invention, a width WW of the first wall portionfulfills the relationship of 0.4 EW<WW<0.8 EW with respect to a width EWof the opening or the cut-out portion in which the first wall portion isprovided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first electrode includes atransparent electrode for defining a transmissive area, and a width EWof the opening or the cut-out portion fulfills the relationship of 1.8dt<EW<2.5 dt with respect to a thickness dt of the liquid crystal layerin the transmissive area.

In one embodiment of the invention, the wall structure includes a thirdwall portion provided in an area surrounding the first electrode.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a dielectric structure provided on a surface of thesecond substrate closer to the liquid crystal layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dielectric structure is locatedat substantially the center of the at least one liquid crystal domain.

In one embodiment of the invention, the dielectric structure is locatedat substantially the center of an area substantially surrounded by thewall structure.

In one embodiment of the invention, where a planar size of the areasubstantially surrounded by the wall structure is Sd, a planar size of abottom of the dielectric structure located at substantially the centerof the area is Sb, and Sa=(Sb/Sd)×100, the relationship of 2≦Sa≦25 isfulfilled.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the wallstructure and the dielectric structure is located in a light shieldingarea.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal layer includes aplurality of areas having different thicknesses.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first electrode includes atransparent electrode for defining a transmissive area and a reflectiveelectrode for defining a reflective area, and a thickness dt of theliquid crystal layer in the transmissive area is larger than a thicknessdr of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective area.

In one embodiment of the invention, the openings or the cut-out portionsinclude an opening or a cut-out portion provided between thetransmissive area and the reflective area.

In one embodiment of the invention, a height WH of the wall structurefulfills the relationship of 0.25 dt<WH<0.4 dt with respect to thethickness dt of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive area.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first substrateand the second substrate has a support for defining the thickness of theliquid crystal layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first substrate further includesan active element provided for each of the plurality of pixel areas, andthe first electrode is a pixel electrode provided for each of theplurality of pixel areas and connected to the active element.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a pair of polarizing plates provided so as to face eachother with the first substrate and the second substrate interposedtherebetween, and at least one biaxial optically anisotropic mediumlayer provided between the first substrate and/or the second substrateand the pair of polarizing plates.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a pair of polarizing plates provided so as to face eachother with the first substrate and the second substrate interposedtherebetween, and at least one uniaxial optically anisotropic mediumlayer provided between the first substrate and/or the second substrateand the pair of polarizing plates.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a liquidcrystal display apparatus includes a first substrate; a second substrateprovided so as to face the first substrate; a vertical alignment typeliquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the secondsubstrate; and a plurality of pixel areas each including a firstelectrode provided on the first substrate, a second electrode providedon the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer provided betweenthe first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrodeincludes at least two openings and at least one cut-out portion providedat prescribed positions. The liquid crystal layer, when being providedwith at least a prescribed voltage, forms at least two liquid crystaldomains each exhibiting a radially inclined orientation, and a centralaxis of the radially inclined orientation of each of the at least twoliquid crystal domains is formed in the at least two openings or in thevicinity thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a light shielding area between the plurality of pixelareas, and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the firstsubstrate closer to the liquid crystal layer in the light shieldingarea.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a light shielding area between the plurality of pixelareas, and a support provided in the light shielding area for definingthe thickness of the liquid crystal layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first electrode includes atransparent electrode for defining a transmissive area and a reflectiveelectrode for defining a reflective area, and a thickness dt of theliquid crystal layer in the transmissive area and a thickness dr of theliquid crystal layer in the reflective area fulfill the relationship of0.3 dt<dr<0.7 dt.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one liquid crystal domainof the at least two liquid crystal domains is formed in the transmissivearea, and the at least one cut-out portion includes a plurality ofcut-out portions arranged in a point symmetrical manner around anopening corresponding to the central axis of the at least one liquidcrystal domain formed in the transmissive area.

In one embodiment of the invention, a transparent dielectric layer isselectively provided in the reflective area of the second substrate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the transparent dielectric layer hasa function of scattering light.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a color filter layer provided on the second substrate,wherein an optical concentration of the color filter layer in thereflective area is smaller than the optical concentration of the colorfilter layer in the transmissive area.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a pair of polarizing plates provided so as to face eachother with the first substrate and the second substrate interposedtherebetween, and at least one biaxial optically anisotropic mediumlayer provided between the first substrate and/or the second substrateand the pair of polarizing plates.

In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid crystal display apparatusfurther includes a pair of polarizing plates provided so as to face eachother with the first substrate and the second substrate interposedtherebetween, and at least one uniaxial optically anisotropic mediumlayer provided between the first substrate and/or the second substrateand the pair of polarizing plates.

A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the first aspect of thepresent invention includes a wall structure on a surface of the firstsubstrate having a first electrode (for example, a pixel electrode), thesurface being closer to the liquid crystal layer. The direction in whichthe liquid crystal molecules in the vertical alignment type liquidcrystal layer are tilted by the electric field is regulated by theanchoring effect (orientation regulating force) of the inclining sidesurfaces of the wall structure. As a result, when at least a prescribedvoltage (equal to or higher than the threshold voltage) is applied, aliquid crystal domain exhibiting a radially inclined orientation isstably formed in an area substantially surrounded by the wall structure.Accordingly, the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is sufficientlystabilized to provide display quality which is equal to, or higher than,that provided by the conventional technology. It is not necessary toprovide an orientation regulating structure such as an electrodeopening, a cut-out portion or a convexed portion on a surface of thesecond substrate facing the first substrate, the surface being closer tothe liquid crystal layer.

In the structure in which the first electrode has an opening or acut-out portion and a wall structure is formed in the opening or cut-outportion, the orientation regulating force provided by the inclinedelectric field generated around the opening or cut-out portion when avoltage is applied cooperate with the orientation regulating forceprovided by the wall structure to regulate the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules are tilted. This further stabilizes theradially inclined orientation. Whereas the orientation regulating forceprovided by the inclined electric field becomes weaker as the voltage islow, the orientation regulating force provided by the wall structuredoes not rely on the voltage. Therefore, the orientation regulatingforce provided by the wall structure is high and stably regulates thedirection in the liquid crystal molecules are tilted even for gray scaledisplay. As a result, the quality of gray scale display can be improved.

In the structure in which a dielectric structure (convexed portion) isprovided at a prescribed position on a surface of the second substratehaving a second electrode (for example, a counter electrode), thesurface being closer to the liquid crystal layer, the radially inclinedorientation is further stabilized. This improves the responsecharacteristics in gray scale display, and also shortens the timerequired until an afterimage generated by pressuring the surface of thepanel disappears.

In a liquid crystal display apparatus according to a second aspect ofthe present invention, the opening formed in the first electrode (forexample, pixel electrode) acts to fix the position of the center of theradially inclined orientation, and the cut-out portion acts to regulatethe direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in the liquidcrystal domain of radially inclined orientation are tilted by theelectric field. In other words, the cut-out portion is provided in thevicinity of the boundary of the liquid crystal domain of radiallyinclined orientation and regulates the direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules are tilted by the electric field. As a result, theorientation of liquid crystal molecules is sufficiently stabilized toprovide display quality which is equal to, or higher than, that providedby the conventional technology. It is not necessary to provide anorientation regulating structure such as an electrode opening, a cut-outportion or a convexed portion on a surface of the second substratefacing the first substrate (having the first electrode), the surfacebeing closer to the liquid crystal layer. In the structure in which awall structure on a surface of the first substrate in the lightshielding area, the surface being closer to the liquid crystal layer,the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules can be stabilizedwithout sacrificing the display quality.

When the present invention is applied to a transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus, it is preferable to provide, on the second substrate,a transparent dielectric layer for controlling the thickness of theliquid crystal layer. Using the transparent dielectric layer as a lightscattering layer (light diffusing layer), the structure of the liquidcrystal display apparatus can be simplified. For example, it is notnecessary to form roughness on a surface of the reflective electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an operation principle of a liquid crystal displayapparatus in an example according to a first aspect of the presentinvention when no voltage is applied.

FIG. 1B illustrates the operation principle of the liquid crystaldisplay apparatus shown in FIG. 1A when a voltage is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the operation principleof a liquid crystal display apparatus in an example according to thefirst aspect of the present invention and showing an orientation stateof liquid crystal molecules.

FIGS. 3A through 3C show a preferable structure of cut-out portions 13(or openings 14) and a wall structure 15 in a liquid crystal displayapparatus in an example according to the first aspect of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view illustrating an exemplary structure of aliquid crystal display apparatus in an example according to the firstaspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a plan view schematically illustrating a structure of a pixelin a transmissive liquid crystal display apparatus 100 in an exampleaccording to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5B-5B′ in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically illustrating a structure of a pixelarea in a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus 200 in anexample according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is across-sectional view taken along line 6B-6B′ in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of an arrangement of cut-out portions and a wallstructure in a pixel electrode in test examples 1 through 7.

FIG. 7B is a plan view of an arrangement of cut-out portions and a wallstructure in a pixel electrode in test example 8.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the voltage vs. transmittancecharacteristic of test example 1.

FIG. 9 shows equicontrast characteristics of test example 1.

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the voltage vs.reflectance/transmittance characteristic of test example 8.

FIG. 11A shows an orientation state of liquid crystal molecules in aliquid crystal display apparatus in another example according to thefirst example of the present invention when no voltage is applied.

FIG. 11B shows an orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules inthe liquid crystal display apparatus shown in FIG. 11A when a voltage isapplied.

FIG. 12A schematically shows an orientation state of liquid crystalmolecules in a sub pixel area of the liquid crystal display apparatusshown in FIG. 11A when no voltage is applied.

FIG. 12B schematically shows an orientation state of the liquid crystalmolecules in the sub pixel area of the liquid crystal display apparatusshown in FIG. 12A immediately after a voltage is applied.

FIG. 12C schematically shows an orientation state of the liquid crystalmolecules in the sub pixel area of the liquid crystal display apparatusshown in FIG. 12A when a sufficiently long time passes after the voltageis applied.

FIG. 13A is a plan view schematically illustrating a structure of apixel area in a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus 2001 inan example according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13B-13B′ in FIG.13A.

FIG. 14A is a plan view schematically illustrating a structure of apixel area in a transmissive liquid crystal display apparatus 300 in anexample according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14B-14B′ in FIG.14A.

FIG. 15A is a plan view schematically illustrating a structure of apixel area in a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus 400 in anexample according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15B-15B′ in FIG.15A.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of an active matrix substrate 410 a of thetransflective liquid crystal display apparatus 400.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the active matrix substrate 410 aof the transflective liquid crystal display apparatus 400.

FIG. 18A schematically shows an operation principle of a liquid crystaldisplay apparatus in an example according to the present invention whenno voltage is applied.

FIG. 18B schematically shows an operation principle of the liquidcrystal display apparatus shown in FIG. 18A when a voltage is applied.

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating the dependency of the voltage vs.reflectance (transmittance) in the transmissive area and the reflectivearea on the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in a liquid crystaldisplay apparatus in an example according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display apparatus according to the presentinvention will be described by way of examples with reference to theattached drawings. First, a structure of a liquid crystal displayapparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention will bedescribed.

With reference to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2, a mechanism of forming aradially inclined orientation in a liquid crystal display apparatusaccording in an example according to the first aspect of the presentinvention will be described.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B explain an action of an orientation regulating forceprovided by openings 14 and wall structures 15 provided in a pixelelectrode 6. FIG. 1A schematically shows an orientation state of liquidcrystal molecules when no voltage is applied, and FIG. 1B schematicallyshows an orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules when avoltage is applied. FIG. 1B shows the state of gray scale display. FIG.2 is a plan view (seen in the direction of normal to the substrate) ofthe orientation of the liquid crystal molecules during the gray scaledisplay.

The liquid crystal display apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a pixelelectrode 6 having the openings 14, and a vertical alignment layer 12 ona transparent substrate 1 in this order. The liquid crystal displayapparatus further includes a counter electrode 19 and a verticalalignment layer 32 provided in this order on another transparentsubstrate 17. A liquid crystal layer 20 provided between the twosubstrates contains liquid crystal molecules 21 having a negativedielectric anisotropy.

As shown in FIG. 1A, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are aligned generally vertically with respect to surfacesof the substrates 1 and 17 owing to the orientation regulating force ofthe vertical alignment layers 12 and 32. Typically, the verticalalignment layer 12 is formed so as to cover the wall structures 15, andin the vicinity of inclining side surfaces of the wall structures 15,the liquid crystal molecules 21 are aligned generally vertically withrespect to surfaces of the inclining side surfaces of the wallstructures 15. Such a structure is omitted from FIGS. 1A and 1B for thesake of simplicity. As shown in FIG. 2, four openings 14 each havingrectangular portions to form the shape of across are provided. The wallstructures 15 are each provided in the respective opening 14, parallelto the rectangular portions. Each wall structure 15 is arranged suchthat the direction of the orientation regulating force provided by thewall structure 15 matches the direction of the orientation regulatingforce provided by the electric field generated by the correspondingopening 14.

When a voltage is applied, as shown in FIG. 1B, the liquid crystalmolecules 21 having a negative dielectric anisotropy tend to be tiltedsuch that the longer axis thereof is vertical to electric force lines.Therefore, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules 21 aretilted is regulated by the inclined electric field generated around theopenings 14. When the cross-shaped openings 14 and the wall structures15 are provided as shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal domain having aradially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 21 isformed in an area which is substantially surrounded by the opening 14and the wall structure 15. In the liquid crystal domain of radiallyinclined orientation, the liquid crystal director is orientedomnidirectionally (in directions in the plane of the substrates). Thisprovides superb viewing angle characteristics. Herein, the term“radially inclined orientation” has the same meaning as the term“axisymmetric orientation”. These terms refer to the state where liquidcrystal molecules are continuously oriented without forming disclinationaround the center of the radially inclined orientation (central axis ofaxisymmetric orientation), and the longer axis of the liquid crystalmolecules is oriented radially, tangentially, or spirally. In eithercase, the longer axis of the liquid crystal molecules has a componentradially inclining from the center of the orientation (i.e., a componentparallel to the inclined electric field).

In this example, the openings 14 are provided as well as the wallstructures 15. Even without the openings 14, the mechanism works asfollows. The anchoring action (the orientation regulating force) actingon the inclining side surfaces of the wall structures 15 regulates inwhich the liquid crystal molecules in the vertical orientation typeliquid crystal layer are tilted. As a result, when a voltage equal to orhigher than the threshold level is applied, a liquid crystal domainhaving a radially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal moleculesis stably formed in an area substantially surrounded by the wallstructures 15. As described above, when the openings 14 are provided inaddition to the wall structure 15, the orientation regulating forceprovided by the inclined electric field which is formed around theopenings 14 or cut-out portions regulates the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules are tilted, in addition to the orientationregulating force provided by the wall structures 15. Therefore, theradially inclined orientation can be further stabilized. The orientationregulating force caused by the inclined electric field becomes weaker asthe voltages decreases, whereas the orientation regulating forceprovided by the wall structures 15 does not rely on the voltage. Thus,the orientation regulating force provided by the wall structures 15 iseffective and stably regulates the direction in the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are tilted even for gray scale display. This improves thegray scale display quality.

The “area substantially surrounded” by the wall structure 15 and theopenings 14 is sufficiently realized as long as the liquid crystalmolecules in that area are continuously regulated by the orientationregulating force to form one liquid crystal domain. It is not necessarythat that the wall structure 15 and/or the openings 14 completelysurround the area. Namely, as shown in FIG. 2, it is sufficient that theadjacent wall structures 15 or openings 14 have a gap therebetween andone liquid crystal domain is formed inside the adjacent wall structures15 or openings 14.

In this example, the action of the inclined electric field generatedaround the openings 14 is described. Also in the vicinity of cut-outportions formed in edges of the pixel electrode 6 (see, for example,cut-out portions 13 in FIG. 3), an inclined electric field is generatedin the same manner and the direction in which the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are tilted by the electric field is regulated.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3C, the arrangement of thecut-out portions 13 (or the openings 14) and the wall structures 15 willbe described. The two figures in FIG. 3A are each a plan viewillustrating an exemplary arrangement in which a pair of rectangularcut-out portions 13 are provided near the center of the pixel electrode6. The same logic is applied where the cut-out portions 13 is replacedwith the openings 14 formed in the pixel electrode 6.

As described above, an area, in which a liquid crystal domain having aradially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal molecules when avoltage is applied (an area in which one liquid crystal domain is formedmay be referred to as a “sub pixel area”), is not necessarily completelysurrounded by the wall structures 15. Therefore, as shown in the rightfigure in FIG. 3A, wall structures 15 b may be formed only in thecut-out portions 13 (or the openings 14). Alternatively, as shown in theleft figure in FIG. 3A, one continuous wall structure 15 a may beextended to run through the cut-out portions 13. Namely, when seen inthe direction of the normal to the surfaces of the substrates, the wallstructures 15 may be seen as a dotted line or a solid line.

With reference to FIGS. 3B and 3C, a preferable structure for the casewhere the wall structure 15 is provided in, and parallel to, therectangular cut-out portions 13 (or the openings 14) will be described.

Where the width of each rectangular cut-out portion is EW (FIG. 3B) andthe width of the wall structure 15 is WW, it is preferable to provide astructure which satisfies the relationship of 0.6 EW<WW<0.9 EW. When 0.6EW>WW, the influence of the orientation regulating force of the wallstructure 15 on the liquid crystal domain in the pixel electrode area issmall and thus it may be difficult to stabilize the liquid crystaldomain in the pixel electrode area. When WW>0.9 EW, the wall structure15 may not be formed in the cut-out portions 13 (misalignment) due to analignment error during the production process. Since the liquid crystalmolecules in the vicinity of the side surfaces of the wall structure 15are inclined with respect to the vertical orientation and thus lightleakage undesirably occurs in a black display state.

Regarding EW (width of the cut-out portion 13), 1.8 dt<EW<2.5 dt ispreferable where dt is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in atransmissive area. In order to stably orient the liquid crystalmolecules in each pixel area using the inclined electric field generatedby a voltage application, the width EW of the cut-out portion 13 is madelarger than the thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer in thetransmissive area. In this manner, the equipotential line issufficiently distorted in an area having no electrode layer, and thusthe orientation state is not continuous over different pixel areas.

When the width EW of the cut-out portion 13 (or the opening 14) is toolarge, the display area in the pixel area becomes small. This is notpreferable since an area in which the display state changes while avoltage is applied becomes small. When the thickness dt of the liquidcrystal layer in the transmissive area is too small, the electric field,i.e., unit V/μm becomes large and thus the amount of change of theelectric field per unit thickness becomes large. As a result,substantially the same effect as provided by increasing the width EW ofthe cut-out portion 13 is obtained. Namely, in order to form asatisfactory liquid crystal domain of radially inclined orientation ineach pixel area and increase the effective numerical aperture as much aspossible at a given cell thickness (thickness of the liquid crystallayer), the width EW of the cut-out portion 13 and the thickness dt ofthe liquid crystal layer in the transmissive area preferably have therelationship of 1.8 dt<EW<2.5 dt. (The “effective numerical aperture” isthe ratio of the area substantially contributing to display with respectto the pixel area.) When 1.8 dt>EW, the electric field per unitthickness is too weak. As a result, the radially inclined orientation ofthe liquid crystal molecules is not stabilized in a pixel area, and thusthe position of the center of the radially inclined orientation may notbe uniform among a plurality of pixel areas. When EW>2.5 dt, the size ofthe cut-out portion 13 (or the opening 14) is too large for theappropriate thickness of the liquid crystal layer. As a result, theeffective numerical aperture is undesirably reduced.

Regarding the height WH of the wall structure 15, 0.25 dt<WH<0.4 dt ispreferable. When WH<0.25 dt, the orientation regulating force providedby the wall structure 15 is too weak and thus a stable orientation statemay not be obtained. When WH>0.4 dt, the following drawbacks occur. Wheninjecting a liquid crystal material between the active matrix substrate1 and the counter substrate 17, the wall structure 15 regularly arrangedon the pixel electrode inhibit the injection, and the injection takes along time. In addition, there is a high possibility that injection isinsufficient in some areas. This is serious especially in the case of atransflective liquid crystal display apparatus. The thickness dr of theliquid crystal layer in a reflective area (see, for example, FIG. 4) isset to about half of the thickness dt in the transmissive area for theoptimum optical designing. Therefore, there is even a possibility thatalmost no liquid crystal material is injected. For these reasons, therelationship of 0.25 dt<WH<0.4 dt is preferable.

In the above example, the wall structures 15 are formed incorrespondence with the cut-out portions 13 or the openings 14. Thepresent invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 3B, the wallstructure 15 may be formed in a peripheral area of the pixel electrode6. In the peripheral area of the pixel electrode 6, a TFT (thin filmtransistor), a gate signal line, a source signal line and the like areformed, or a black matrix is formed on the counter substrate. Thus, theperipheral area of the pixel electrode 6 is a light shielding area whichdoes not contribute to display. Therefore, the wall structure 15 formedin this area does not have any adverse influence on display.

The wall structure 15 may be formed so as to substantially surround anarea in which a liquid crystal domain is formed (sub pixel area). Unlessthe wall structure 15 is formed in each sub pixel area, the orientationregulating force provided by the cut-out portion 13 or the opening 14may not be sufficient when the voltage is low. This may cause theposition of the center of the radially inclined orientation of theliquid crystal domain to be non-uniform among a plurality of pixel areassince the position cannot be maintained stably. Especially in the caseof a transflective liquid crystal display apparatus, it is preferable toprovide an opening or a cut-out portion at least between thetransmissive area and the reflective area. It is preferable to providethe wall structure 15 in stead of this, or in addition to this. In thecase where the wall structure 15 is not provided between thetransmissive area and the reflective area, the orientation regulatingforce of an area having the wall structure 15 is stronger than that ofthe other area when the voltage is low. This may cause the position ofthe center of the radially inclined orientation to be offset from thecenter of the sub pixel area in the transmissive area or the reflectivearea.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the exemplary structure of the liquidcrystal display apparatus according to the first aspect of the presentinvention will be described.

The liquid crystal display apparatus shown in FIG. 4 includes abacklight, a transflective liquid crystal panel 50, a pair of polarizingplates 40 and 43 facing each other with the liquid crystal panel 50interposed therebetween, a ¼ wave plate 41 provided between thepolarizing plate 40 and the liquid crystal panel 50, a ¼ wave plate 44provided between the polarizing plate 43 and the liquid crystal panel50, a phase plate 42 having a negative optical anisotropy providedbetween the ¼ wave plate 41 and the liquid crystal panel 50, and a phaseplate 45 having a negative optical anisotropy provided between the ¼wave plate 44 and the liquid crystal panel 50. The liquid crystal panel50 includes the transparent active matrix substrate 1, the transparentcounter substrate 17, and the vertical orientation type liquid crystallayer 20. The liquid crystal panel 50 has the same structure as that of,for example, a liquid crystal display apparatus 200 described below withreference to FIG. 6.

A display operation of the liquid crystal display apparatus shown inFIG. 4 will be briefly described.

First, reflective mode display will be described. Light incident on theliquid crystal display apparatus from above passes through thepolarizing plate 43 to be linearly polarized light. The linearlypolarized light becomes circularly polarized light when being incidenton the ¼ wave plate 44 arranged such that the transmission axis of thepolarizing plate 43 and the slow axis of the ¼ wave plate 44 make anangle of 45°. The circularly polarized light passes through a colorfilter (not shown) formed on the substrate 17. The phase plate 45 usedin this example does not give any phase difference to the light incidenton the liquid crystal display apparatus in the direction of normal tothe substrates 1 and 17.

When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 21 in theliquid crystal layer 20 are aligned generally vertically with respect tothe surfaces of the substrates. Therefore, the incident light passes theliquid crystal layer 20 with a phase difference of about 0 and isreflected by a reflective electrode formed on the active matrixsubstrate 1. The reflected circularly polarized light passes through theliquid crystal layer 20 again, passes through the color filter, andpasses again through the phase plate 45 having a negative opticalanisotropy while being circularly polarized light, is converted by the ¼wave plate 44 to linearly polarized light having a polarizationdirection perpendicular to the polarization direction when the incidentlight first passed through the polarizing plate 43, and thus reaches thepolarizing plate 43. Therefore, the light cannot be transmitted throughthe polarizing plate 43. Thus, black display is generated.

When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 21 in the liquidcrystal layer 20 are tilted to be horizontal with respect to thesurfaces of the substrates from the vertical state. Therefore, theincident circularly polarized light becomes elliptically polarized lightbecause of the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer 20, and isreflected by the reflective electrode formed on the active matrixsubstrate 1. The polarization state of the reflected light is furtherchanged by the liquid crystal layer 20 and passes again through theliquid crystal layer 20, passes through the color filter, passes againthrough the phase plate 45 having a negative optical anisotropy, and isincident on the ¼ wave plate 44 as elliptically polarized light.Therefore, when the light reaches the polarizing plate 43, the lightdoes not become linearly polarized light having a polarization directionperpendicular to the polarization direction when the incident lightfirst passed through the polarizing plate 43. The light is transmittedthrough the plate 43. That is, by adjusting the applied voltage, thedegree of which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted can becontrolled, and thus the amount of the reflected light which can betransmitted through the polarizing plate 43 is modulated. Thus, grayscale display is realized.

Now, transmissive mode display will be described. The two polarizingplates 43 and 40 are arranged such that the transmission axes thereofare perpendicular to each other. Light emitted by the light sourcebecomes linearly polarized light by the polarizing plate 40. Thelinearly polarized light becomes circularly polarized light when beingincident on the ¼ wave plate 41 arranged such that the transmission axisof the polarizing plate 40 and the slow axis of the ¼ wave plate 41 makean angle of 45°. The circularly polarized light passes through the phaseplate 42 having a negative optical anisotropy and then is incident onthe active matrix substrate 1 in the transmissive area A. The phaseplate 42 used in this example does not give any phase difference to thelight incident on the liquid crystal display apparatus in the directionof normal to the substrates 1 and 17.

When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 21 in theliquid crystal layer 20 are aligned generally vertically with respect tothe surfaces of the substrates. Therefore, the incident light passes theliquid crystal layer 20 with a phase difference of about 0 and isincident on the active matrix substrate 1 while being circularlypolarized light. The circularly polarized light passes through theliquid crystal layer 20 and the counter substrate 17, is transmittedthrough the phase plate 45 having a negative optical anisotropy, andreaches the ¼ wave plate 44. In the case where the lower ¼ wave plate 41and the upper ¼ wave plate 44 are arranged such that slow axes thereofcross at 90°, the phase difference caused by passing through the lower ¼wave plate 41 is cancelled by passing through the upper ¼ wave plate 44.Therefore, the light becomes a linearly polarized light having anoriginal polarization direction. The polarized light which passedthrough the upper ¼ wave plate 44 becomes a linearly polarized lightwhose polarization direction is parallel to the transmission axis (i.e.,polarization axis) of the polarizing plate 40 and is absorbed by thepolarizing plate 40 whose polarizing direction is perpendicular to thatof polarizing plates 43. Thus, black display is generated.

When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 21 in the liquidcrystal layer 20 are tilted to be horizontal with respect to thesurfaces of the substrates from the vertical state. Therefore, theincident circularly polarized light becomes elliptically polarized lightbecause of the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer 20, and passesthrough the counter substrate 17 (also referred to as a “color filtersubstrate”), the phase plate 45 having a negative optical anisotropy,and the ¼ wave plate 44 while being elliptically polarized light. Then,the elliptically polarized light reaches the polarizing plate 43.Therefore, the light incident on the polarizing plate 43 does not becomelinearly polarized light which is perpendicular to the linearlypolarized light obtained when the incident light first passed throughthe polarizing plate 43. The light is transmitted through the polarizingplate 43. That is, by adjusting the applied voltage, the degree of whichthe liquid crystal molecules are tilted can be controlled, and thus theamount of the light which can be transmitted through the polarizingplate 43 is modulated. Thus, gray scale display is realized.

The phase plate having a negative optical anisotropy minimizes theamount of change of the phase difference occurring when the viewingangle is changed while the liquid crystal molecules are in a verticalorientation state, and suppresses the phenomenon that black imagesappear floating in a wide viewing angle state. Instead of thecombination of the phase plate having a negative optical anisotropy andthe ¼ wave plate, a biaxial phase plate including a phase plate having anegative optical anisotropy and a ¼ wave plate in an integrated mannermay be used.

In the case where, as according to the present invention, normally blackmode display is performed in a liquid crystal domain of radiallyinclined orientation, the extinction pattern caused by the polarizingplates is solved by providing a pair of ¼ wave plates above and belowthe liquid crystal panel so as to improve the brightness of images. (Inthe “normally black mode”, black display is generated when no voltage isapplied and white display is generated when a voltage is applied.) Inthe case where the normally black mode display is performed in a liquidcrystal domain of radially inclined orientation in the state where thetransmission axes of the upper and lower polarizing plates areperpendicular to each other, black display which is equivalent to theblack display provided by a pair of polarizing plates arranged in acrossed Nicols state is realized theoretically. Therefore, a very highcontrast ratio can be obtained and a wide viewing angle guided by theomnidirectional orientation can be achieved.

(Transmissive Liquid Crystal Display Apparatus)

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a transmissive liquid crystal displayapparatus 100 in an example according to the first aspect of the presentinvention will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show astructure of one pixel area of the liquid crystal display apparatus 100.FIG. 5A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional viewthereof taken along line 5B-5B′ in FIG. 5A.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 100 includes a transparentsubstrate (for example, a glass substrate) 110 a, a transparentsubstrate 110 b provided to face the transparent substrate 110 a, and avertical orientation type liquid crystal layer 120 provided between thetransparent substrates 110 a and 110 b. On surfaces of the transparentsubstrates 110 a and 110 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 120, avertical alignment layer (not shown) is provided. When no voltage isapplied, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 120 arealigned generally vertically with respect to the surfaces of thevertical alignment layers. The liquid crystal layer 120 contains anematic liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropyand optionally contains achiral material.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 100 includes pixel electrodes 111provided on the transparent substrate 110 a and a counter electrode 131provided on the transparent substrate 110 b. The liquid crystal layer120 provided between the pixel electrodes 111 and the counter electrode131 defines each of pixel areas. The pixel electrodes 111 and thecounter electrode 131 are both formed of a transparent conductive layer(for example, an ITO layer). Typically, on a surface of the transparentsubstrate 110 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 120, a color filter130 is provided in correspondence with each pixel area and a blackmatrix (light shielding layer) 132 is provided between adjacent colorfilters 130. (A plurality of color filters may be collectively referredto as a “color filer layer 130”.) On the color filters 130 and the blackmatrix 132, the counter electrode 131 is provided. Alternatively, thecolor filters 130 and the black matrix 132 may be provided on a surfaceof the counter electrode 131 closer to the liquid crystal layer 120.

The pixel electrodes 111 each have two cut-out portions 113 atprescribed positions. On the surface of the transparent substrate 110 acloser to the liquid crystal layer 120, a wall structure 115 isprovided. The wall structure 115 includes a wall portion surrounding thepixel electrode 111, a wall portion provided in, and parallel to, therectangular cut-out portion 113, and a wall portion extended to connectthese wall portions.

When a prescribed voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 120,two liquid crystal domains each exhibiting a radially inclinedorientation of the liquid crystal molecules are formed in an areasurrounded by the wall structure 115. The wall structure 115 in thisexample is provided as one continuous wall, but the wall structure maybe divided into a plurality of walls. The wall structure 115, which actsto define the boundary of the liquid crystal domains, preferably has acertain length. For example, when the wall structure 115 includes aplurality of walls, each wall preferably has a length which is greaterthan the length of the gap between adjacent walls.

It is preferable to provide a support 133 for defining the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 120 (also referred to as a “cell gap”) in alight shielding area, since this prevents display quality from beingdecreased. The support 133 can be formed, for example, byphotolithography using a photosensitive resin. The support 133 may beformed on either the transparent substrate 110 a or 110 b. The support133 is not limited to being provided on the wall structure 115 in thelight shielding area as shown in FIG. 5B. When the support 133 isprovided on the wall structure 115, the sum of the height of the wallstructure 115 and the height of the support 133 is set to be equal tothe thickness of the liquid crystal layer 120. In the case where thesupport 133 is provided in an area having no wall structure 115, theheight of the support 133 is set to be equal to the thickness of theliquid crystal layer 120.

On the surface of the transparent substrate 110 a closer to the liquidcrystal layer 120, an active element such as a TFT or the like andcircuit elements including a gate line and a source line connected tothe TFT (none of them are shown) are provided. The transparent substrate110 a, and the circuit elements, the pixel electrodes 111, the wallstructure 115, the support 133, the alignment layer and the like whichare provided on the transparent substrate 110 a may be collectivelyreferred to as the active matrix substrate. The transparent substrate110 b, and the color filter layer 130, the black matrix 132, the counterelectrode 132, the alignment layer and the like which are provided onthe transparent substrate 110 b may be collectively referred to as thecounter substrate or the color filter substrate.

Although not mentioned above, the liquid crystal display apparatus 100further includes a pair of polarizing plates facing each other with thetransparent substrates 110 a and 110 b interposed therebetween. The pairof polarizing plates are arranged such that the transmission axesthereof are perpendicular to each other. As described above, the liquidcrystal display apparatus 100 may include a biaxial opticallyanisotropic medium layer or a uniaxial optically anisotropic medium.

(Transflective Liquid Crystal Display Apparatus)

With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 200 in an example according to the first aspect of thepresent invention will be described.

FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically show a structure of one pixel area of theliquid crystal display apparatus 200. FIG. 6A is a plan view thereof,and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 6B-6B′ inFIG. 6A.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200 includes a transparentsubstrate (for example, a glass substrate) 210 a, a transparentsubstrate 210 b provided to face the transparent substrate 210 a, and avertical orientation type liquid crystal layer 220 provided between thetransparent substrates 210 a and 210 b. On surfaces of the transparentsubstrates 210 a and 210 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 220, avertical alignment layer (not shown) is provided. When no voltage isapplied, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 220 arealigned generally vertically with respect to the surfaces of thevertical alignment layers. The liquid crystal layer 220 contains anematic liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropyand optionally contains a chiral material.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200 includes pixel electrodes 211provided on the transparent substrate 210 a and a counter electrode 231provided on the transparent substrate 210 b. The liquid crystal layer220 provided between the pixel electrodes 211 and the counter electrode231 defines each of pixel areas. On the transparent substrate 210 a,circuit elements including TFTs are provided as described below. Thetransparent substrate 210 a and the elements provided thereon may becollectively referred to as the active matrix substrate 210 a.

Typically, on a surface of the transparent substrate 210 b closer to theliquid crystal layer 220, a color filter 230 is provided incorrespondence with each pixel area and a black matrix (light shieldinglayer) 232 is provided between adjacent color filters 230. (A pluralityof color filters may be collectively referred to as a “color filer layer230”.) On the color filters 230 and the black matrix 232, the counterelectrode 231 is provided. Alternatively, the color filters 230 and theblack matrix 232 may be provided on a surface of the counter electrode231 closer to the liquid crystal layer 220. The transparent substrate210 b and the elements provided thereon may be collectively referred toas the counter substrate (or the color filter substrate) 210 b.

The pixel electrodes 211 each have a transparent electrode 211 a formedof a transparent conductive layer (for example, an ITO layer) and areflective electrode 211 b formed of a metal layer (for example, an Allayer, an alloy layer containing Al, or a laminate layer containing theAl layer or the alloy layer). As a result, the pixel area includes atransmissive area A defined by the transparent electrode 211 a and areflective area B defined by the reflective electrode 211 b. Thetransmissive area A displays images in a transmissive mode and thereflective area B displays images in a reflective mode.

Each pixel electrode 211 has cut-out portions 213 at prescribedpositions. On the surface of the transparent substrate 210 a closer tothe liquid crystal layer 220, a wall structure 215 is provided. The wallstructure 215 includes a wall portion surrounding the pixel electrode211, a wall portion provided in, and parallel to, the rectangularcut-out portion 213, and a wall portion extended to connect these wallportions.

When a prescribed voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer 220,three liquid crystal domains each exhibiting a radially inclinedorientation of the liquid crystal molecules are formed in an areasurrounded by the wall structure 215. The wall structure 215 in thisexample is provided as one continuous wall, but the wall structure maybe divided into a plurality of walls. The wall structure 215, which actsto define the boundary of the liquid crystal domains, preferably has acertain length. For example, when the wall structure 215 includes aplurality of walls, each wall preferably has a length which is greaterthan the length of the gap between adjacent walls.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example in which two liquid crystal domains inthe transmissive area A and one liquid crystal domain in the reflectivearea B. The present invention is not limited to such a structure. Eachdomain is preferably generally square from the viewpoints of viewingangle characteristics and orientation stability.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200 has the wall structure 215 onthe transparent substrate 210 a in a light shielding area providedbetween adjacent pixel areas. The wall structure 215 in this example isprovided as a continuous wall surrounding the pixel area, but the wallstructure may be divided into a plurality of walls. The wall structure215 acts to define the boundary of the liquid crystal domains which isformed in the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the pixel area. Thus,the wall structure 215 preferably has a certain length. For example,when the wall structure 215 includes a plurality of walls, each wallpreferably has a length which is greater than the length of the gapbetween adjacent walls.

It is preferable to provide a support 233 for defining the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 220 (also referred to as a “cell gap”) in thelight shielding area, since this prevents display quality from beingdecreased. The support 233 can be formed, for example, byphotolithography using a photosensitive resin. The support 233 may beformed on either the transparent substrate 210 a or 210 b. The support233 is not limited to being provided on the wall structure 215 in thelight shielding area as shown in FIG. 6B. When the support 233 isprovided on the wall structure 215, the sum of the height of the wallstructure 215 and the height of the support 233 is set to be equal tothe thickness of the liquid crystal layer 220. In the case where thesupport 233 is provided in an area having no wall structure 215, theheight of the support 233 is set to be equal to the thickness of theliquid crystal layer 220.

Next, a preferable structure unique to the transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 200 capable of performing transmissive mode displayand reflective mode display will be described.

In the transmissive mode display, light used for display passes throughthe liquid crystal layer 220 only once. By contrast, in the reflectivemode display, light used for display passes through the liquid crystallayer 220 twice. Accordingly, as schematically shown in FIG. 6B, it ispreferably to set the thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer 220 inthe transmissive area A about twice as large as the thickness dr of theliquid crystal layer 220 in the reflective area B. Such settingsubstantially equalizes retardations given by the liquid crystal layer220 to the light in both modes. dt=0.5 dt is most preferable. As long asthe relationship of 0.3 dt<dr<0.7 dr is obtained, satisfactory displayis realized in both modes. In some uses, dt=dr is acceptable.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200 includes a transparentdielectric layer 234 above the glass substrate 210 b only in thereflective area B. This is provided in order to make the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 220 in the reflective area B smaller than thethickness of the liquid crystal layer 220 in the transmissive area A.The counter electrode 231 is preferably provided so as to cover thetransparent dielectric layer 234, which is on the liquid crystal layer220 as shown in FIG. 6B. With the structure of providing the transparentdielectric layer 234 on the counter substrate 210 b, it is not necessaryto provide a step below the reflective electrode 211 b using aninsulating layer or the like. This offers an advantage of simplifyingthe production process of the active matrix substrate 210 a. In the casewhere the reflective electrode 211 b is provided on an insulating layerwhich is formed for providing a step for adjusting the thickness of theliquid crystal layer 220, the following problems occur: light used forthe transmissive display is shielded by the reflective electrodecovering the inclining surfaces (tapered surfaces) of the insulatinglayer; and light reflected by the reflective electrode formed on theinclining surface of the insulating layer is repeatedly reflectedinternally, and thus is not effectively used for reflective display.These problems are suppressed by the above-mentioned structure, and theutilization factor of light can be improved.

It is also preferable to form the transparent dielectric layer 234 of alayer having a light scattering function (diffusive reflectionfunction). In this case, white display close to satisfactory paper whitedisplay can be realized without providing the reflective electrode 211 bwith the diffusive reflection function. White display close tosatisfactory paper white display can also be realized by providingroughness to the surface of the reflective electrode 211 b even withoutproviding the transparent dielectric layer 234 with the light scattingfunction. However, in this case, the position of the center of theradially inclined orientation may not be stabilized when the roughnesshas a certain shape. By contrast, use of the transparent dielectriclayer 234 having the light scattering function and the reflectiveelectrode 211 b having a flat surface offers an advantage of stabilizingthe position of the center more certainly owing to the openings 214formed in the reflective electrode 211 b. In the case where theroughness is formed on the surface of the reflective electrode 211 b inorder to provide the reflective electrode 211 b with the diffusivereflection function, it is preferable that the roughness is continuouslywave-shaped so as to prevent generation of interference colors. Thus,the position of the center of the radially inclined orientation isstabilized.

Light used for display in the transmissive mode passes through the colorfilter layer 230 only once, whereas light used for display in thereflective mode passes through the color filter layer 230 twice.Accordingly, where the color filter layer 230 in the transmissive area Aand the color filter layer 230 in the reflective area B have the sameoptical concentration, the color purity and/or the luminance in thereflective mode may be reduced. In order to suppress this problem, it ispreferable to make the optical concentration of the color filter layer230 in the reflective area B smaller than that of the color filter layer230 in the transmissive area A. Herein, the optical concentration is avalue characterizing the color filter layer. The optical concentrationbecomes smaller as the thickness of the color filter layer is madesmaller. The optical concentration also becomes smaller as theconcentration of the colorant added is reduced while the thickness ofthe color filter layer is maintained.

Hereinafter, display characteristics of liquid crystal displayapparatuses produced as test models will be specifically described.

TEST EXAMPLE 1

On an active matrix substrate having signal lines and TFTs (thin filmtransistors) formed thereon, a pixel electrode 6 (ITO layer; transparentelectrode) and a wall structure 15 shown in FIG. 7A were formed. Thewidth of each cut-out portion 13 was 8 μm and the width of the wallstructure 15 was 6 μm. A support for defining the cell thickness wasformed in an area which does not have the wall structure 15. The heightof the support was 4.0 μm.

A vertical alignment agent was applied to the active matrix substrateproduced in this manner and a counter substrate (color filter substrate)having a color filter layer and an electrode layer, and the substrateswere baked. Thus, a vertical alignment layer was formed on each of thesubstrate. The active matrix substrate and the counter substrate werecombined, a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectricanisotropy (Δn=0.101, Δ∈=−5.0) was injected between the substrates, andthe substrates were sealed. Then, an optical film was provided on outersurfaces of both substrates to produce a liquid crystal displayapparatus.

The liquid crystal display apparatus produced in test example 1 had thestructure including the following elements from top: polarizing plate(on the side of the observer), ¼ wave plate (phase plate 1), phase platehaving a negative optical anisotropy (phase plate 2; NR plate), liquidcrystal layer (interposed between the color filter substrate (above) andthe active matrix substrate (below)), phase plate having a negativeoptical anisotropy (phase plate 3; NR plate), ¼ wave plate (phase plate4), and polarizing plate (on the side of the backlight). The upper andlower ¼ wave plates (phase plates 1 and 4) were arranged such that theslow axes thereof were perpendicular to each other. The phase differencebetween the upper and lower ¼ wave plates was 140 nm (¼ of thewavelength of visible light (560 nm)).

The phase difference between the phase plates having a negative opticalanisotropy (phase plates 2 and 3) was 135 nm in a direction parallel tothe optical axis (vertical to the substrates) and in a directionparallel to the substrates. The two polarizing plates (on the side ofthe observer and on the side of the backlight) were arranged such thatthe transmission axes thereof were perpendicular to each other.

A driving signal was applied to the liquid crystal display apparatus(more specifically, 4 V was applied to the liquid crystal layer) toevaluate the display characteristics. Test example 1 had a satisfactoryvoltage vs. transmittance characteristic as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9shows the results of evaluation of the viewing angle vs. contrastcharacteristics in the transmissive mode display. The viewing anglecharacteristic was substantially symmetrical in all the directions inthe transmissive mode display. The area of CR>10 (represented by thethick lines) was satisfactory at ±80°. The contrast in the transmissivemode display was also as high as 300:1 or greater in the frontdirection. Regarding the response speed in the gray scale display, theresponse time for level 6 to level 7 (low voltage close to blackdisplay) in 8 levels was 20 msec. This was faster than the case where nowall structure was provided.

TEST EXAMPLE 2

On an active matrix substrate, a pixel electrode 6 having cut-outportions 13 having substantially the same shape as those of test example1 was formed. Then, a wall structure was formed on the pixel electrode(ITO) as shown in FIG. 7A. The width of each cut-out portion 13 was 6 μmand the width of the wall structure 15 was 3 μm. The height of a supportfor defining the cell thickness was 3.0 μm. After this, the liquidcrystal display apparatus was produced in the same manner as in testexample 1. The liquid crystal display apparatus produced in this testexample showed a satisfactory viewing angle characteristic and a highcontrast characteristic in all the directions.

TEST EXAMPLE 3

On an active matrix substrate having a pixel electrode 6 and a wallstructure 15 substantially the same as those of test example 1, asupport for defining the cell thickness was formed in an area which doesnot wall structure 15 (in a light shielding area). The height of thesupport was 4.5 μm. After this, the liquid crystal display apparatus wasproduced in the same manner as in test example 1.

When the liquid crystal display apparatus in test example 3 was observedfrom the side of the wide viewing angle, roughness was observed in someof the pixel areas. As a result of observing the pixel areas withroughness in a crossed Nicols manner, it was found that the center ofthe radially inclined orientation was offset from the center of each ofthe observed pixel areas. This shows that a width of the cut-out portionwhich is too large for the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is notpreferable.

TEST EXAMPLE 4

A pixel electrode 6 and a wall structure 15 substantially the same asthose of test example 1 were formed. The width of the cut-out portion 13was 6 μm and the width of the wall structure 15 was 1 μm. The height ofthe support for defining the cell gap was set to 3.0 μm. After this, theliquid crystal display apparatus was produced in the same manner as intest example 1.

When the liquid crystal display apparatus in test example 4 was observedfrom the side of the wide viewing angle, roughness was observed in someof the pixel areas. As a result of observing the pixel areas withroughness in a crossed Nicols manner, it was found that the center ofthe radially inclined orientation was offset from the center of each ofthe observed pixel areas. This shows that a width of the wall structurewhich is too small as compared to the width of the cut-out portion isnot preferable.

TEST EXAMPLE 5

On an active matrix substrate having a pixel electrode 6 substantiallythe same as that of test example 1, a wall structure 15 having a widthof 8 μm was formed. After this, the liquid crystal display apparatus wasproduced in the same manner as in test example 1.

When the liquid crystal display apparatus in test example 5 wasobserved, black images appeared as floating in black display in some ofthe pixel areas. As a result of observing the pixel areas with suchblack images by a polarizing microscope, it was found that the wallstructure 15 was present in a peripheral region of the transmissive areaand light leakage occurred. This shows that a width of the wallstructure which is larger than the width of the cut-out portion is notpreferable.

TEST EXAMPLE 6

On an active matrix substrate having a pixel electrode 6 substantiallythe same as that of test example 1, a wall structure 15 was formed. Thewidth of the cut-out portion 13 was 8 μm and the width of the wallstructure 15 was 5 μm. A support for defining the cell thickness wasformed in an area which does not have the wall structure 15. The heightof the support was 2.5 μm. After this, the liquid crystal displayapparatus was produced in the same manner as in test example 1.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus in test example 6, the change inretardation based on the change in the voltage signal was small and thusthe transmittance of the liquid crystal layer was low. Therefore, thedisplay was relative dark. This shows that a thickness of the liquidcrystal layer in the transmissive area which is smaller than the widthof the cut-out portion is not preferable.

TEST EXAMPLE 7

On an active matrix substrate, a pixel electrode 6 having a cut-outportion 13 having substantially the same shape as that of test example 1was formed. No wall structure was formed. A support for defining thecell thickness was formed on the active matrix substrate. The height ofthe support was 3.6 μm. After this, the liquid crystal display apparatuswas produced in the same manner as in test example 1.

The response time in the gray scale display (level 6 to level 7 in 8levels) of the liquid crystal display apparatus in test example 7 wasevaluated. The response was as slow as about 120 msec. This is becauseit takes along time to stabilize the liquid crystal molecules when theorientation regulating force provided by the cut-out portion 13 in blackdisplay is weak.

TEST EXAMPLE 8

As shown in FIG. 7B, on an active matrix substrate, a transparentelectrode 6 a (ITO layer) and reflective electrodes 6 b (Al) wereformed. The transparent electrode 6 a formed a transmissive area, andthe reflective electrodes 6 b formed a reflective area. On theelectrodes 6 a and 6 b, a wall structure 15 was formed. The width ofeach cut-out portion 13 was 8 μm and the width of the wall structure 15was 6 μm. A support for defining the cell thickness was formed outsidethe display area. The height of the support was 3.6 μm.

A color filter layer as a part of the counter substrate to the activematrix substrate, and then a step having a thickness of about 1.8 μm wasformed in the reflective area. On the color filter layer, an ITOelectrode layer was formed. Thus, the counter substrate (color filtersubstrate) was produced.

A vertical alignment agent was applied to the obtained active matrixsubstrate and counter substrate, and the substrates were baked at 180°C. for 1.5 hours. Thus, a vertical alignment layer was formed on each ofthe substrate. The active matrix substrate and the counter substratewere combined, a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectricanisotropy was injected between the substrates, and the substrates weresealed. Then, as in test example 1, an optical film was provided onouter surfaces of both substrates to produce a liquid crystal displayapparatus, based on the optical film setting. Thus, the liquid crystaldisplay apparatus was produced. The thickness of the liquid crystallayer in the transmissive area was 3.6 μm and the thickness of theliquid crystal layer in the reflective area was 1.8 μm because of theheight of the step of 1.8 μm formed on the color filter layer and theheight of the support of 3.6 μm. The display characteristics in thetransmissive mode display were substantially as satisfactory as in testexample 1. The characteristics in the reflective mode display was about8.5% (converted based on the numerical aperture of 100%) based on thestandard diffusive plate, and the contrast ratio was 20. The liquidcrystal display apparatus in test example 8 showed satisfactory voltagevs. reflectance characteristic as shown in FIG. 10.

Table 1 shows the display quality of the liquid crystal displayapparatuses in the above-described test examples with different valuesfor the width of the cut-out portion 13, the width of the wall structure15, and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissivearea. TABLE 1 EW WW dt Fulfill Fulfill (μm) (μm) (μm) 0.4EW < WW <0.8EW? 1.8dt < EW < 2.5dt? Display quality Test example 1 8 6 43.2(0.4EW) < WW = 6.48(1.8dt) < EW = Good 6 < 6.4(EW = 8): ◯ 8 <9(2.5dt): ◯ Test example 2 6 3 3 2.4(0.4EW) < WW = 5.4 < EW = Good 3 <4.8(0.8*EW): ◯ 6 < 7.5(2.5dt): ◯ Test example 3 6 3 4.5 2.4(0.4EW) < WW= 8.1(1.8dt) < EW = Position of center 3 < 4.8(0.8*EW): ◯ 6: X differentpixel by pixel→roughness Test example 4 6 1 3 2.4(0.4EW) > WW = 1: X 5.4< EW = Position of center 6 < 7.5(2.5dt): ◯ different pixel bypixel→roughness Test example 5 8 8 3.6 WW = 8 > 6.4(0.8*EW): X Lightleakage in display area Test example 6 8 5 2.5 3.2(0.4EW) < WW = EW = 5= 5(2.5dt): X Transmittance reduced 5 < 6.4(EW = 8): ◯ Test example 8 79 3.6 2.8(0.4EW) < WW = 6.48(1.8dt) < EW = Good 5 < 5.6(0.8*EW): ◯ 7 <9(2.5dt): ◯

As described above, according to the first aspect of the presentinvention, a liquid crystal display apparatus having satisfactoryviewing angle characteristics over all the directions and also highcontrast characteristics can be produced by forming a wall structurehaving an electrode cut-out portion and an inclining side surface on oneof the substrates (active matrix substrate in this example) forregulating the orientation of liquid crystal molecules.

Next, a liquid crystal display apparatus in another example according tothe first aspect of the present invention will be described.

The liquid crystal display apparatus described below is different fromthe liquid crystal display apparatus described above in that thesubstrate having the wall structure (first substrate; for example, theactive matrix substrate) and the other substrate (second substrate; forexample, counter (or color filter) substrate) each have a dielectricstructure (convexed portions). In the following description, theelements which are identical to those in the above-described examplewill bear identical reference numerals therewith and detaileddescriptions thereof will be omitted.

The liquid crystal display apparatus in the above example stabilizes aradially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal layer with a simplestructure of providing an orientation regulating structure (wallstructure, electrode opening, and/or electrode cut-out portion) on onesubstrate. In the liquid crystal display apparatus in this example, adielectric structure is provided on one substrate in an areasubstantially surrounded by the wall structure provided on the othersubstrate. Thus, the orientation of liquid crystal molecules isregulated by both the substrates facing each other. Owing to such astructure, the radially inclined orientation is further stabilized. As aresult, for example, the recovery force when the surface of the panel ispressed is increased and thus the disturbance in the orientation tendsnot to occur. Even if the disturbance in the orientation occurs, theorientation is recovered in a shorter time. In addition, the effect ofshortening the response time in gray scale display is enhanced.

With reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B and 12C, the orientationstate of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal displayapparatus in this example will be described.

FIGS. 11A and 11B correspond to FIGS. 1A and 1B in the above-describedexample, respectively. FIG. 11A schematically shows an orientation stateof liquid crystal molecules when no voltage is applied, and FIG. 11Bschematically shows an orientation state of the liquid crystal moleculeswhen a voltage is applied.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a liquid crystal domainhaving a radially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal moleculesis formed in an area which is substantially surrounded by the opening 14and the wall structure 15 (sub pixel area). The liquid crystal domain isformed by the inclined electric field generated by the openings 14formed in the pixel electrodes 6 and the orientation regulating force(anchoring effect) provided by the inclining side surfaces of the wallstructure 15 formed in the openings 14. The liquid crystal displayapparatus in this example further includes a dielectric structure 25 atsubstantially the center of the sub pixel area on a surface of the uppersubstrate 17 closer to the liquid crystal layer 20. The radiallyinclined orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 21 is furtherstabilized by the orientation regulating force (anchoring effect) ofinclining side surfaces of the dielectric structure 25. Although notclearly shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B for the sake of simplicity, thevertical alignment layer 32 is provided so as to cover the dielectricstructure 25.

As can be seen from FIG. 11B, the orientation regulating force providedby the inclining side surfaces of the dielectric structure 25 providedon a surface of the second substrate (counter substrate) 17 closer tothe liquid crystal layer 20 acts to orient the liquid crystal molecules21 in the same direction as the orientation regulating force provided bythe orientation regulating structure formed on the first substrate(active matrix substrate), for example, the wall structure and theelectrode openings. Therefore, the radially inclined orientation of theliquid crystal molecules in the sub pixel area is further stabilized.Since the radially inclined orientation of the liquid crystal moleculesis formed around the dielectric structure 25 provided at substantiallythe center of the sub pixel area, the center of the radially inclinedorientation is fixed at a position in the vicinity of the dielectricstructure 25.

When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules having anegative dielectric anisotropy tilt to be perpendicular to the directionof the electric field i.e., such that the longer axis of the liquidcrystal molecules is parallel to the surfaces of the substrates). It ispreferable to provide an arrangement such that the liquid crystalmolecules tilt externally (as shown by arrows in FIG. 11B) to theinclining side surfaces of the dielectric structure 25. In the casewhere, the liquid crystal molecules tilt internally, a disclination linemay be generated.

As described above, the orientation regulating structure provided on thefirst substrate (wall structure, electrode openings, etc.) regulates theorientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules in the peripheralregion of the sub pixel area, and the orientation regulating structureprovided on the substrate (dielectric structure) regulates theorientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules substantially atthe center of the sub pixel area. Owing to such setting, the responsetime in gray scale display can be shortened, or the time required untilan afterimage, which is generated when the surface of the panel ispressed, disappears can be shortened. The reasons will be described withreference to FIGS. 12A through 12C.

FIGS. 12A through 12C schematically show the orientation of the liquidcrystal molecules in a sub pixel area in the liquid crystal displayapparatus in this example. FIG. 12A shows the state when no voltage isapplied. FIG. 12B shows the state immediately after a voltage isapplied. FIG. 12C shows the state when a sufficiently long time passesafter the voltage is applied. FIGS. 12A through 12C do not show theorientation regulating structure provided in a peripheral region of thesub pixel area (the wall structure surrounding the sub pixel area, theelectrode openings, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 12A, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are aligned generally vertically. Although the liquidcrystal molecules near the inclining side surfaces of the dielectricstructure 25 tend to be oriented vertically with respect to the sideinclining surfaces and thus are pre-tilted, FIG. 12A does not show sucha state.

When a voltage is applied, as shown in FIG. 12B, the liquid crystalmolecules which are subjected to the orientation regulating force of theorientation regulating structure provided in a peripheral region of thesub pixel area (the liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral region ofthe sub pixel area) and the liquid crystal molecules which are subjectedto the orientation regulating force of the dielectric structure 25 (theliquid crystal molecules at and near the center of the sub pixel area)are first tilted.

As time passes, the liquid crystal molecules between the orientationregulating structure in the peripheral region of the sub pixel area andthe dielectric structure 25 are continuously inclined.

By providing the dielectric structure 25 at substantially the center ofthe sub pixel area, the orientation regulation of the liquid crystalmolecules proceeds from both the dielectric structure 25 and thevicinity thereof and the orientation regulating structure in theperipheral region of the sub pixel area. This provides the effects ofshortening the response time in gray scale display and increasing therecovery force against a pressure in the surface of the panel.

(Dielectric Structure)

The dielectric structure is preferably provided at a prescribed positionin each area substantially surrounded by the wall structure, morespecifically, at a position on a surface of the counter substrate closerto the liquid crystal layer, the position corresponding to thesubstantial center of each area. Here, the expression “substantiallysurrounded by the wall structure” refers to that a display area of apixel area is partitioned as necessary by a regularly patterned wallstructure (a continuous stepped structure, or a discontinuous steppedstructure). According to the present invention, the radially inclinedorientation of liquid crystal molecules is realized in each of areasobtained by such partitioning by the action of the orientationregulating structure such as the wall structure, the dielectricstructure or the like.

The dielectric structure is preferably provided at substantially thecenter of a sub pixel area substantially surrounded by the wallstructure or the like. Where the ratio of the planar size (area) Sb ofthe bottom of the dielectric structure with respect to the planar size(area) Sd of the sub pixel area (liquid crystal domain) is Sa(%), it ispreferable that the value of Sa fulfills the relationship of 2≦Sa≦25.When the value of Sa is smaller than the above range, the effect ofstabilizing the orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules maynot be obtained. When the value of Sa is larger than the above range,the ratio of the area occupied by the dielectric structure in the pixelarea is too large and the effective numerical aperture is conspicuouslyreduced. This reduces the display luminance. In addition, in thevicinity of the inclining side surfaces of the dielectric structure, theliquid crystal molecules oriented in a direction tilted with respect tothe polarization axis of the polarizing plate give a phase difference tothe polarization passing through this region. As a result, light leakageoccurs and the contrast ratio may be lowered. For these reasons, thesize of the dielectric structure is preferably in the above-mentionedrange.

In order to prevent light leakage in the vicinity of the dielectricstructure, a light shielding layer may be provided on the transparentsubstrate 210 b, if necessary. The light shielding layer can be formedby patterning a light shielding metal layer or an insulating layerhaving a light shielding function (for example, a black resin layer)with a known method. Provision of the light shielding layer can suppressthe reduction in the contrast ratio. The light shielding layer may beprovided on the active matrix substrate 210 a in the area facing thedielectric structure.

It is preferable that the shape of the cross-section of the dielectricstructure (the shape of the cross-section in a plane parallel to thesurfaces of the substrates) is matched to the shape of a pixel area orthe shape of a sub pixel area. For example, where the pixel area or thesub pixel area is rectangular, the cross-section of the dielectricstructure preferably has a shape of a rectangle, a square, a rectanglewith rounded corners, a square with rounded corners, a circle or anellipse. Especially when the cross-section includes a curved surface,the liquid crystal molecules around the dielectric structure can easilyexhibit a radially inclined orientation. Thus, generation ofdisclination can be suppressed.

Next, an exemplary transflective liquid crystal display apparatus 200′including the dielectric structure is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. FIG.13A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional viewthereof taken along line 13B-13B′ in FIG. 13A.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200′ in this example is obtained byproviding a dielectric structure 225 at substantially the center of eachof three sub pixel areas of the transflective liquid crystal displayapparatus 200 in the previous example shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Inaddition, a gap is provided between the pixel electrode 211 and the wallstructure 215, and the wall structure 215 is provided only in thevicinity of the pixel electrode 211 and in the cut-out portions 213 butnot on the pixel electrode 211. By omitting the wall structure 215 onthe pixel electrode 211, the decrease in aperture ratio and the lightleakage can be reduced.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 200′ in this example furtherstabilizes the radially inclined orientation, requires a shorter timefor solving the orientation disturbance occurred when the surface of thepanel is pressed, and is further superior in the responsecharacteristics in gray scale display, as compared to the liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 200 in the previous example.

Hereinafter, test examples 9 through 13 will be evaluated. Test examples9 through 13 were produced fundamentally in the same manner as testexample 1.

The size of a sub pixel area was 55 μm×60 μm (Sd=3300 μm²). Thedielectric structure 225 was formed on the second substrate 210 b at aposition corresponding to the substantial center of each sub pixel area.The dielectric structure 225 was formed by a photolithography processusing a transparent photosensitive resin.

The bottom area Sb of the dielectric structure 225 was 78 μm² in testexample 9 (truncated cone having a diameter of the bottom surface of 10μm), 845 μm² in test example 10 (truncated cone having a diameter of thebottom surface of 32.8 μm), 480 μm² in test example 11 (truncatedpyramid with a rectangular bottom surface of 20 μm×24 μm with roundedcorners), 64 μm² in test example 12 (truncated cone having a diameter ofthe bottom surface of 9 μm), and 908 μm² in test example 13 (truncatedcone having a diameter of the bottom surface of 34 μm). As in testexample 1, the liquid crystal display apparatus in each test example wasobtained after an optical film was provided on outer surfaces of bothsubstrates. The structure of the optical film was the same as in testexample 1.

A driving voltage was applied to each liquid crystal display apparatus(more specifically, 4 V was applied to the liquid crystal layer) toevaluate the display characteristics. For the display characteristics,the contrast (CR) value in the front direction when a voltage of 4 V wasapplied and the durability against pressure when the panel was pressedat a force of 1 kgf/cm² (time until an afterimage disappeared) wereevaluated.

For the response time in gray scale display, the time required for theresponse from level 6 to level 7 (low voltage close to black display) in8 levels was evaluated. Regarding the contrast value in the frontdirection, the design value was 300 and the lower limit was 270.Regarding the durability against pressure, the orientation recoveryforce after the pressurizing was evaluated. When the inferiororientation was solved (namely, the inferior orientation became visuallyunrecognizable) within 1 minute, it was evaluated as ◯. When theinferior orientation was solved within 5 minutes (lower limit), it wasevaluated as Δ. When the orientation disturbance remained after 10minutes, it was evaluated as X.

The evaluation results are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Response ContrastBottom time in Durability ratio in area Sr gray scale against the front(μm²) Sa (%) (ms) pressure direction Test example 9 78 2.2 18 Δ 340 Testexample 10 845 23.6 14.5 ◯ 275 Test example 11 480 13.4 16.5 ◯ 300 Testexample 12 64 1.8 20 X 345 Test example 13 908 25.4 14 ◯ 260

As can be appreciated from Table 2, provision of the dielectricstructure shortens the response time in gray scale display and improvesthe durability against pressure. As can be appreciated from the resultof test example 12, when Sa is less than 2%, the effect of thedielectric structure is not fully provided. As can be appreciated fromthe result of test example 13, an Sa exceeding 25% is not preferablesince the contrast ratio in the front direction is reduced although theresponse time in gray scale display is shortened and the durabilityagainst pressure is increased. Considering these resultscomprehensively, it is preferable to provide the dielectric structure soas to fulfill the relationship of 2≦Sa≦25. The range of Sa may bechanged in accordance with the use or characteristics given priority.

A panel having the same structure as that of test example 11 wasprovided with a light shielding layer in order to prevent light leakagefrom the vicinity of the dielectric structure. It was confirmed that thecontrast ratio in the front direction was increased to 380. Please notethat in the step of forming a black matrix (i.e., light shielding layer)before the step of forming the dielectric structure 225 on the secondsubstrate 210 b, the light shielding layer having an area bigger thanthe bottom of the dielectric structure 225 is formed at a position wherethe dielectric structure 225 is subject to be formed, in this example.

As described above, provision of the dielectric structure 25significantly improves the stabilization state of the radially inclinedorientation of liquid crystal molecules, and realizes a shorter responsetime in gray scale display and a higher recovery force against pressureon the surface of the panel.

Next, a structure of a liquid crystal display apparatus according to asecond aspect of the present invention will be described.

In the liquid crystal display apparatus according to the second aspectof the present invention, the openings provided in a first electrode(for example, a pixel electrode) act to fix the position of the centerof the radially inclined orientation, and the cut-out portions act todefine the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules in the liquidcrystal domain of radially inclined orientation are tilted by theelectric field. In the liquid crystal display apparatuses according tothe first aspect of the present invention, the radially inclinedorientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domainwas realized by a wall structure substantially surrounding the liquidcrystal domain. In the liquid crystal display apparatus according to thesecond aspect of the present invention, the radially inclinedorientation is realized by the opening located at substantially thecenter of the liquid crystal domain. In the liquid crystal displayapparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, awall structure may be used together with the cut-out portions.

(Transmissive Liquid Crystal Display Apparatus)

With reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, a transmissive liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 300 in an example according to the second aspect ofthe present invention will be described. FIGS. 13A and 13B schematicallyshow a structure of one pixel area of the liquid crystal displayapparatus 300. FIG. 14A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 14B is across-sectional view thereof taken along line 14B-14B′ in FIG. 14A.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 300 includes a transparentsubstrate (for example, a glass substrate) 310 a, a transparentsubstrate 310 b provided to face the transparent substrate 310 a, and avertical orientation type liquid crystal layer 320 provided between thetransparent substrates 310 a and 310 b. On surfaces of the transparentsubstrates 310 a and 310 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 320, avertical alignment layer (not shown) is provided. When no voltage isapplied, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 320 arealigned generally vertically with respect to the surfaces of thevertical alignment layers. The liquid crystal layer 320 contains anematic liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropyand optionally contains a chiral material.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 300 includes pixel electrodes 311provided on the transparent substrate 310 a and a counter electrode 331provided on the transparent substrate 310 b. The liquid crystal layer320 provided between the pixel electrodes 311 and the counter electrode331 defines each of pixel areas. The pixel electrodes 311 and thecounter electrode 331 are both formed of a transparent conductive layer(for example, an ITO layer). Typically, on a surface of the transparentsubstrate 310 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 320, a color filter330 is provided in correspondence with each pixel area and a blackmatrix (light shielding layer) 332 is provided between adjacent colorfilters 330. (A plurality of color filters may be collectively referredto as a “color filer layer 330”.) On the color filters 330 and the blackmatrix 332, the counter electrode 331 is provided. Alternatively, thecolor filters 330 and the black matrix 332 may be provided on a surfaceof the counter electrode 331 closer to the liquid crystal layer 320.

The pixel electrode 311 includes two openings 314 and four cut-outportions 313 at prescribed positions. When a prescribed voltage isapplied to the liquid crystal layer 320, two liquid crystal domains eachexhibiting a radially inclined orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules are formed. The central axis of the radially inclinedorientation in each liquid crystal domain is formed in the opening 314or in the vicinity thereof. As described below, each of the openings 314formed in the pixel electrode 313 acts to fix the position of thecentral axis of the radially inclined orientation. The cut-out portions313 are formed near the boundary of the domains of radially inclinedorientation, and define the direction in which the liquid crystalmolecules are tilted by the electric field. Thus, the cut-out portions313 act to form the domains of radially inclined orientation. Around theopenings 314 and the cut-out portions 313, an inclined electric field isformed by the voltage applied between the pixel electrode 311 and thecounter electrode 331. The above-mentioned function is realized by theinclined electric field defining the direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules are tilted. Here, four cut-out portions 313 arearranged in a point symmetrical manner around the opening 314 (the rightopening 314 in FIGS. 14A and 14B) corresponding to the central axis ofthe liquid crystal domain formed in the pixel area (entirelytransmissive).

By providing such cut-out portions 313, the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules are tilted when a voltage is applied isdefined, and two liquid crystal domains are formed. In FIGS. 14A and14B, no cut-out portion is provided at the left edge of the pixelelectrode 311. The reason is that the same effect is provided by thecut-out portions 313 provided at the right edge of a pixel electrode(not shown) provided to the left of the pixel electrode 311 shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B. The cut-out portions, which reduces the effectivenumerical aperture of the pixel area, are, not formed at the left edgeof the pixel electrode 311 for this reason. The orientation regulatingforce is provided by the wall structure 315. Even though the cut-outportions are not provided at the left edge of the pixel electrode 311,stable liquid crystal domains are obtained as in the case where thecut-out portions are provided at the left edge of the pixel electrode311. In addition, the effective numerical aperture is improved by notproviding the cut-out portions.

In this example, four cut-out portions 313 are provided. At least onecut-out portion 313 provided between adjacent liquid crystal domains issufficient. Here, for example, a lengthy cut-out portion may be providedat the center of the pixel electrode 311 and the other cut-out portionsmay be omitted.

The shape of the openings 314 provided for fixing the central axis ofthe liquid crystal domains of radially inclined orientation ispreferably circular as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, but is not limited tobeing circular. In order to provide the orientation regulating forcesubstantially equal in all the directions, the openings 314 preferablyhave a shape of a polygon having four or more sides and corners. Theopenings 314 preferably have a shape of a regular polygon. The shape ofthe cut-out portions 313, acting to define the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domains of radiallyinclined orientation are tilted by the electric field, is set to providethe orientation regulating force which is substantially equal to theradially inclined orientation in adjacent areas. For example, theopenings 314 are preferably quadrangular.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 300 includes a light shielding areaand has the wall structure 315 on the transparent substrate 310 a in thelight shielding area. The “light shielding area” is an area which isformed around the pixel electrode 311 and is optically shielded by, forexample, TFTs, gate signal lines, or source signal lines or the blackmatrix formed on the transparent substrate 310 b. This area does notcontribute to display. Therefore, the wall structure 315 formed in thisarea does not have any adverse influence on display.

The wall structure 315 in this example is provided as one continuouswall, but the wall structure may be divided into a plurality of walls.The wall structure 315 acts to define the boundary of the liquid crystaldomains which is formed in the vicinity of the outer perimeter of thepixel area. Thus, the wall structure 315 preferably has a certainlength. For example, when the wall structure 315 includes a plurality ofwalls, each wall preferably has a length which is greater than thelength of the gap between adjacent walls.

It is preferable to provide a support 333 for defining the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 320 (also referred to as a “cell gap”) in thelight shielding area, since this prevents display quality from beingdecreased. The support 333 may be formed on either the transparentsubstrate 310 a or 310 b. The support 333 is not limited to beingprovided on the wall structure 315 in the light shielding area as shownin FIG. 14B. When the support 333 is provided on the wall structure 315,the sum of the height of the wall structure 315 and the height of thesupport 333 is set to be equal to the thickness of the liquid crystallayer 320. In the case where the support 333 is provided in an areahaving no wall structure 315, the height of the support 333 is set to beequal to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 320. The support 333can be formed, for example, by photolithography using a photosensitiveresin.

When a prescribed voltage (equal to or higher than the threshold level)is applied between the pixel electrode 311 and the counter electrode331, the liquid crystal display apparatus 300 operates as follows. Twoliquid crystal domains of radially inclined orientation are respectivelyformed in the two openings 314 or in the vicinity thereof. The centralaxis of each liquid crystal domain is stabilized. The pair of cut-outportions 313 provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of thepixel electrode 311 define the direction in which the liquid crystalmolecules in each liquid crystal domain are tilted by the electricfield. The wall structure 315 and the cut-out portions 313 provided atthe corners of the pixel electrode 311 define the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domain in the vicinity ofthe outer perimeter of the pixel area are tilted by the electric field.It is considered that the orientation regulating forces provided by theopenings 314, the cut-out portions 313 and the wall structure 315cooperatively act to stabilize the orientation of the liquid crystalmolecules in the liquid crystal domains.

On the surface of the transparent substrate 310 a closer to the liquidcrystal layer 320, an active element such as a TFT or the like andcircuit elements including a gate line and a source line connected tothe TFT (none of them are shown) are provided. The transparent substrate310 a, and the circuit elements, the pixel electrodes 311, the wallstructure 315, the support 333, the alignment layer and the like whichare provided on the transparent substrate 310 a may be collectivelyreferred to as the active matrix substrate. The transparent substrate310 b, and the color filter layer 330, the black matrix 332, the counterelectrode 332, the alignment layer and the like which are provided onthe transparent substrate 310 b may be collectively referred to as thecounter substrate or the color filter substrate.

Although not mentioned above, the liquid crystal display apparatus 300further includes a pair of polarizing plates facing each other with thetransparent substrates 310 a and 310 b interposed therebetween.Typically, the pair of polarizing plates are arranged such that thetransmission axes thereof are perpendicular to each other. As describedabove, the liquid crystal display apparatus 300 may include a biaxialoptically anisotropic medium layer or a uniaxial optically anisotropicmedium.

(Transflective Liquid Crystal Display Apparatus)

With reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 400 in an example according to the second aspect ofthe present invention will be described.

FIGS. 15A and 15B schematically show a structure of one pixel area ofthe liquid crystal display apparatus 400. FIG. 15A is a plan viewthereof, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line15B-15B′ in FIG. 15A.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 400 includes a transparentsubstrate (for example, a glass substrate) 410 a, a transparentsubstrate 410 b provided to face the transparent substrate 410 a, and avertical orientation type liquid crystal layer 420 provided between thetransparent substrates 410 a and 410 b. On surfaces of the transparentsubstrates 410 a and 410 b closer to the liquid crystal layer 420, avertical alignment layer (not shown) is provided. When no voltage isapplied, liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 320 arealigned generally vertically with respect to the surfaces of thevertical alignment layers. The liquid crystal layer 320 contains anematic liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropyand optionally contains a chiral material.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 400 includes pixel electrodes 411provided on the transparent substrate 410 a and a counter electrode 431provided on the transparent substrate 410 b. The liquid crystal layer420 provided between the pixel electrodes 411 and the counter electrode431 defines each of pixel areas. On the transparent substrate 410 a,circuit elements including TFTs are provided as described below. Thetransparent substrate 410 a and the elements provided thereon may becollectively referred to as the active matrix substrate 410 a.

Typically, on a surface of the transparent substrate 410 b closer to theliquid crystal layer 420, a color filter 430 is provided incorrespondence with each pixel area and a black matrix (light shieldinglayer) 432 is provided between adjacent color filters 430. (A pluralityof color filters may be collectively referred to as a “color filer layer430”.) On the color filters 430 and the black matrix 432, the counterelectrode 431 is provided. Alternatively, the color filters 430 and theblack matrix 432 may be provided on a surface of the counter electrode431 closer to the liquid crystal layer 420. The transparent substrate410 b and the elements provided thereon may be collectively referred toas the counter substrate (or the color filter substrate) 410 b.

The pixel electrodes 411 each have a transparent electrode 411 a formedof a transparent conductive layer (for example, an ITO layer) and areflective electrode 411 b formed of a metal layer (for example, an Allayer, an alloy layer containing Al, or a laminate layer containing theAl layer or the alloy layer). As a result, the pixel area includes atransmissive area A defined by the transparent electrode 411 a and areflective area B defined by the reflective electrode 411 b. Thetransmissive area A displays images in a transmissive mode and thereflective area B displays images in a reflective mode.

Each pixel electrode 411 has three openings 414 and four cut-outportions 413 at prescribed positions. When a prescribed voltage isapplied to the liquid crystal layer, three liquid crystal domains eachexhibiting a radially inclined orientation are formed. The central axisof the radially inclined orientation of each liquid crystal domain isformed in the respective opening 414 or in the vicinity thereof. Asdescribed below, each opening 414 formed in the pixel electrode 411 actsto fix the central axis of the respective radially inclined orientation,and the cut-out portions 413 act to define the direction in which theliquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal domains of radiallyinclined orientation are tilted by the electric field. Around theopenings 414 and the cut-out portions 413, an inclined electric field isformed by the voltage applied between the pixel electrode 411 and thecounter electrode 413. The above-mentioned function is realized by theinclined electric field defining the direction in which the liquidcrystal molecules are tilted. Here, four cut-out portions 413 arearranged in a point symmetrical manner around the opening 414 (the rightopening 414 in FIGS. 15A and 15B). By providing such cut-out portions413, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules are tilted whena voltage is applied is defined, and three liquid crystal domains areformed. A preferable arrangement and shape of the openings 414 and thecut-out portions 413 are the same as those for the transmissive liquidcrystal display apparatus 300 described above. In FIGS. 15A and 15B, twoliquid crystal domains are formed in the transmissive area A and oneliquid crystal domain is formed in the reflective area B. The presentinvention is not limited to such a structure. Each domain is preferablygenerally square from the viewpoints of viewing angle characteristicsand orientation stability.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 400 includes a light shielding areaand has a wall structure 415 on the transparent substrate 410 a in thelight shielding area. This area does not contribute to display.Therefore, the wall structure 415 formed in this area does not have anyadverse influence on display. The wall structure 415 in this example isprovided as one continuous wall, but the wall structure may be dividedinto a plurality of walls. The wall structure 415 acts to define theboundary of the liquid crystal domains which is formed in the vicinityof the outer perimeter of the pixel area. Thus, the wall structure 415preferably has a certain length. For example, when the wall structure415 includes a plurality of walls, each wall preferably has a lengthwhich is greater than the length of the gap between adjacent walls.

It is preferable to provide a support 433 for defining the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 420 (also referred to as a “cell gap”) in thelight shielding area (area defined by the black matrix 432 in thisexample), since this prevents display quality from being decreased. Thesupport 433 may be formed on either the transparent substrate 410 a or410 b. The support 433 is not limited to being provided on the wallstructure 415 in the light shielding area as shown in FIG. 15B. When thesupport 433 is provided on the wall structure 415, the sum of the heightof the wall structure 415 and the height of the support 433 is set to beequal to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 420. In the casewhere the support 433 is provided in an area having no wall structure415, the height of the support 433 is set to be equal to the thicknessof the liquid crystal layer 420.

When a prescribed voltage (equal to or higher than the threshold level)is applied between the pixel electrode 411 and the counter electrode431, the liquid crystal display apparatus 400 operates as follows. Threeliquid crystal domains of radially inclined orientation are respectivelyformed in the three openings 414 or in the vicinity thereof. The centralaxis of each liquid crystal domain is stabilized. The four cut-outportions 413 in the pixel electrode 413 define the direction in whichthe liquid crystal molecules in each liquid crystal domain are tilted bythe electric field. The wall structure 415 define the boundary of theliquid crystal domains which is formed in the vicinity of the outerperimeter of the pixel area.

Next, a preferable structure unique to the transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 400 capable of performing transmissive mode displayand reflective mode display will be described.

In the transmissive mode display, light used for display passes throughthe liquid crystal layer 420 only once. By contrast, in the reflectivemode display, light used for display passes through the liquid crystallayer 420 twice. Accordingly, as schematically shown in FIG. 15B, it ispreferably to set the thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer 420 inthe transmissive area A about twice as large as the thickness dr of theliquid crystal layer 420 in the reflective area B. Such settingsubstantially equalizes retardations given by the liquid crystal layer420 to the light in both modes. dt=0.5 dt is most preferable. As long asthe relationship of 0.3 dt<dr<0.7 dr is obtained, satisfactory displayis realized in both modes. In some uses, dt=dr is acceptable.

The liquid crystal display apparatus 400 includes a transparentdielectric layer 434 above the glass substrate 410 b only in thereflective area B. This is provided in order to make the thickness ofthe liquid crystal layer 420 in the reflective area B smaller than thethickness of the liquid crystal layer 420 in the transmissive area A.With the structure of providing the transparent dielectric layer 434 onthe counter substrate 410 b, it is not necessary to provide a step belowthe reflective electrode 411 b using an insulating layer or the like.This offers an advantage of simplifying the production process of theactive matrix substrate 410 a. In the case where the reflectiveelectrode 411 b is provided on an insulating layer which is formed forproviding a step for adjusting the thickness of the liquid crystal layer420, the following problems occur: light used for transmissive displayis shielded by the reflective electrode covering the inclining surfaces(tapered surfaces) of the insulating layer; and light reflected by thereflective electrode formed on the inclining surfaces of the insulatinglayer is repeatedly reflected internally, and thus is not effectivelyused for reflective display. These problems are suppressed by theabove-mentioned structure, and the utilization factor of light can beimproved.

It is also preferable to form the transparent dielectric layer 434 of alayer having a light scattering function (diffusive reflectionfunction). In this case, white display close to satisfactory paper whitedisplay can be realized without providing the reflective electrode 411 bwith the diffusive reflection function. White display close tosatisfactory paper white display can also be realized by providingroughness to the surface of the reflective electrode 411 b even withoutproviding the transparent dielectric layer 434 with the light scattingfunction. However, in this case, the position of the center of theradially inclined orientation may not be stabilized when the roughnesshas a certain shape. By contrast, use of the transparent dielectriclayer 434 having the light scattering function and the reflectiveelectrode 411 b having a flat surface offers an advantage of stabilizingthe position of the center more certainly owing to the openings 414formed in the reflective electrode 411 b. In the case where theroughness is formed on the surface of the reflective electrode 411 b inorder to provide the reflective electrode 411 b with the diffusivereflection function, it is preferable that the roughness is continuouslywave-shaped so as to prevent generation of interference colors. Thus,the position of the center of the radially inclined orientation isstabilized.

Light used for display in the transmissive mode passes through the colorfilter layer 430 only once, whereas light used for display in thereflective mode passes through the color filter layer 430 twice.Accordingly, where the color filter layer 430 in the transmissive area Aand the color filter layer 430 in the reflective area B have the sameoptical concentration, the color purity and/or the luminance in thereflective mode may be reduced. In order to suppress this problem, it ispreferable to make the optical concentration of the color filter layer430 in the reflective area B smaller than that of the color filter layer430 in the transmissive area A. Herein, the optical concentration is avalue characterizing the color filter layer. The optical concentrationbecomes smaller as the thickness of the color filter layer is madesmaller. The optical concentration also becomes smaller as theconcentration of the colorant added is reduced while the thickness ofthe color filter layer is maintained.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, an exemplary structure of anactive matrix substrate preferably usable for a transflective liquidcrystal display apparatus will be described. FIG. 16 is a partiallyenlarged view of the active matrix substrate, and FIG. 17 is across-sectional view taken along line X-X′ in FIG. 16. The active matrixsubstrate shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is different from the active matrixsubstrate 410 a shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B in that one liquid crystaldomain is formed in the transmissive area A (namely, the active matrixsubstrate shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 has a smaller number of openings 414and cut-out portions 413 than the active matrix substrate 410 a). Theactive matrix substrate shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 may be the same as theactive matrix substrate 410 a on other points.

The active matrix substrate shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 includes atransparent substrate 1 formed of, for example, glass. On thetransparent substrate 1000, gate signal lines 2 and source signal lines3 are provided so as to perpendicular to each other. In the vicinity ofeach of intersections of the gate signal lines 2 and the source signallines 3, a TFT 4 is provided. A drain electrode 5 of the TFT 4 isconnected to a pixel electrode 6.

The pixel electrode 6 includes a transparent electrode 7 formed of atransparent conductive material such as ITO or the like, and areflective electrode 8 formed of Al or the like. The pixel electrode 6has the cut-out portions 13 and the openings 14 at prescribed positionsfor controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal domain of radiallyinclined orientation.

The pixel electrode 6 overlaps the gate signal line below with a gateinsulating layer 9 interposed therebetween, and thus a storagecapacitance is formed. The TFT 4 has a structure in which the gateinsulating layer 9, a semiconductor layer 12 a, a channel protectionlayer 12 c and an n-Si layer 11 (source/drain layer) are laminated on agate electrode 10 branched from the gate signal line 2.

In this example, the TFT 4 is of a bottom gate type, but a top gate typeTFT is also usable.

As described above, the liquid crystal display apparatus 400 shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B, like the liquid crystal display apparatus 300, has aneffect of sufficiently stabilizing the orientation of liquid crystalmolecules, with a relatively simple structure of providing anorientation regulating structure (the openings 414, the cut-out portions413 and the wall structure 415 formed in the pixel electrode 411) forregulating the radially inclined orientation only on one substrate. Bystructuring the transparent dielectric layer 434 and/or the color filterlayer 430 as described above, the brightness and color purity of displayin the transmissive mode and the reflective mode can be improved.

(Operation Principle)

With reference to FIGS. 18A and 18B, the reason why the liquid crystaldisplay apparatus according to the second aspect of the presentinvention having a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer hasexcellently wide viewing angle characteristics will be described.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate the action of the orientation regulatingforce provided by the openings 14 formed in the pixel electrode 6. FIG.18A schematically shows the orientation state of the liquid crystalmolecules when no voltage is applied, and FIG. 18B schematically showsthe orientation state of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage isapplied. FIG. 18B shows the state of gray scale display.

The liquid crystal display apparatus shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B includesan insulating layer 16, the pixel electrode 6 having the openings 14,and an alignment layer 12 provided in this order on a transparentsubstrate 1. On a counter substrate 17, a color filter layer 18, acounter electrode 19 and an alignment layer 32 are provided in thisorder. A liquid crystal layer 20 interposed between the two substratescontains liquid crystal molecules 21 having a negative dielectricanisotropy.

As shown in FIG. 18A, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are aligned generally vertically to the surfaces of thesubstrates because of the alignment regulating forces of the verticalalignment layers 12 and 32.

When a voltage is applied, as shown in FIG. 18B, the liquid crystalmolecules 21 having a negative dielectric anisotropy tend to be tiltedsuch that the longer axis thereof is vertical to electric force lines.Therefore, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules 21 aretilted is regulated by the inclined electric field generated around theopenings 14. As a result, a radially inclined orientation is formedaround, for example, each opening 14 (namely, liquid crystal moleculesare orientated axisymmetrically). In the domain of radially inclinedorientation, the liquid crystal director is oriented omnidirectionally(in directions in the plane of the substrates). This provides superbviewing angle characteristics.

In this example, the action of the inclined electric field generatedaround the opening 14 is described. An inclined electric field is alsogenerated in the vicinity of a cut-out portion formed at an edge of thepixel electrode 6, and the direction in which the liquid crystalmolecules 21 are tilted by the electric field is regulated. The wallstructure regulates the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules21 are tilted by the orientation regulating force of the side surfaces(wall surfaces) thereof. Typically, the vertical alignment layer isprovided so as to cover the wall structure, and therefore the liquidcrystal molecules is regulated by the force to be oriented vertically tothe wall surfaces.

The liquid crystal display apparatus in an example according to thesecond aspect of the present invention has the structure as shown inFIG. 4, like the liquid crystal display apparatus according to the firstaspect of the present invention.

The thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive area,and the thickness dr of the liquid crystal layer in the reflective area,preferably fulfill the relationship of 0.3 dt<dr<0.7 dt, as shown byFIG. 19. FIG. 19 shows the dependency of the voltage vs. reflectance(transmittance) in the transmissive area and the reflective area on thethickness of the liquid crystal layer. More preferably, dt and drfulfill the relationship of 0.4 dt<dr<0.6 dt. When the thickness of theliquid crystal layer in the reflective area is less than the lowerlimit, the reflectance is 50% or less of the maximum reflectance, andthus a sufficient reflectance is not obtained. When the thickness of theliquid crystal layer in the reflective area is larger than the upperlimit, the following problems occur: the voltage vs. reflectancecharacteristic has a maximum value at which the reflectance is maximumat a driving voltage different from the voltage for transmissive modedisplay; and the relative reflectance tends to significantly drop at thewhite display voltage which is optimum for transmissive mode display,which results in a reflectance of 50% or less of the maximumreflectance. A sufficient reflectance is not obtained. However, theoptical path length in the reflective area B is twice as large as thatin the transmissive area A. Therefore, when the reflective area B isdesigned in the same manner as the transmissive area A, the designing ofthe optical birefringence anisotropy (Δn) of the liquid crystal materialand the cell thickness of the panel is very important.

Specific characteristics of the transflective liquid crystal displayapparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention willbe described.

A liquid crystal display apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 4was produced. As the liquid crystal cell 50, a liquid crystal cellhaving substantially the same structure as that of the liquid crystaldisplay apparatus 400 shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B except for thefollowing points was used. The transparent dielectric layer 434 did nothave any light scattering function. A resin layer having a continuouswave-shaped roughness on a surface thereof was formed below thereflective electrode 411 b, so as to adjust the diffusive reflectioncharacteristics in reflective mode display.

Vertical alignment layers were produced using a known alignment layermaterial using a known method. No rubbing was performed. A liquidcrystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δn: 0.1; Δ∈:−4.5) was used. The thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer in thetransmissive area was 4 μm, and the thickness dr of the liquid crystallayer in the reflective area was 2.2 μm (dr=0.55 dt).

The liquid crystal display apparatus in this example had the structureincluding the following elements from top: polarizing plate (on the sideof the observer), ¼ wave plate (phase plate 1), phase plate having anegative optical anisotropy (phase plate 2; NR plate), liquid crystallayer (interposed between the color filter substrate (above) and theactive matrix substrate (below)), phase plate having a negative opticalanisotropy (phase plate 3; NR plate), ¼ wave plate (phase plate 4), andpolarizing plate (on the side of the backlight). The upper and lower ¼wave plates (phase plates 1 and 4) were arranged such that the slow axesthereof were perpendicular to each other. The phase difference betweenthe upper and lower ¼ wave plates was 140 nm. The phase differencebetween the phase plates having a negative optical anisotropy (phaseplates 2 and 3) was 135 nm. The two polarizing plates (on the side ofthe observer and on the side of the backlight) were arranged such thatthe transmission axes thereof were perpendicular to each other.

A driving signal was applied to the liquid crystal display apparatus(more specifically, 4 V was applied to the liquid crystal layer) toevaluate the display characteristics.

The viewing angle vs. contrast characteristics in the transmissive modedisplay were substantially the same as those in FIG. 9. The viewingangle characteristic was substantially symmetrical in all the directionsin the transmissive mode display. The area of CR>10 was satisfactory at+80°. The contrast in the transmissive mode display was also as high as300:1 or greater in the front direction.

The characteristics in the reflective mode display were evaluated usinga spectro-colorimeter (CM2002 available from Minolta). Thecharacteristics in the reflective mode display was about 8.5% (convertedbased on the numerical aperture of 100%) based on the standard diffusiveplate, and the contrast ratio was 21, which is higher than that of theconventional liquid crystal display apparatuses.

A liquid crystal display apparatus having the structure shown in FIGS.15A and 15B but without the openings, cut-out portions and the wallstructure was produced. A liquid crystal panel having an ECB modehomogenous alignment was produced using a horizontal alignment layer. Aliquid crystal material having a positive dielectric anisotropy (Δn:0.07; Δ∈: 8.5) was used. The thickness dt of the liquid crystal layer inthe transmissive area was 4.3 μm, and the thickness dr of the liquidcrystal layer in the reflective area was 2.3 μm (dr=0.53 dt).

An optical film including a plurality of optical layers such as apolarizing plate, a ¼ wave plate, a phase plate and the like wasprovided on both outer surfaces of the liquid crystal panel to produce aliquid crystal display apparatus.

A driving signal was applied to the liquid crystal display apparatus(more specifically, 4 V was applied to the liquid crystal layer) toevaluate the display characteristics by the same evaluation method asdescribed above.

Regarding the viewing angle characteristics in the transmissive modedisplay, the area of CR>10 was satisfactory at +30°. Gradient inversionwas conspicuous. The contrast in the transmissive mode display was140:1. The characteristics in the reflective mode display was about 9.3%(converted based on the numerical aperture of 100%) based on thestandard diffusive plate, and the contrast ratio was 8. The displayedimage blurred in white at a lower contrast than the image provided bythe liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention.

As described above, the liquid crystal display apparatus in an exampleaccording to the second aspect of the present invention applies thevertical alignment mode to the transmissive mode display and thereflective mode display. As a result, a high contrast was obtained inboth the transmissive mode display and the reflective mode display, ascompared to the conventional liquid crystal display apparatus ofhomogenous alignment or the liquid crystal display apparatuses usingconventionally known technologies. A regulating factor for regulatingthe orientation in the liquid crystal domain is provided only on onesubstrate (the active matrix substrate in this example). Owing to such astructure, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules of theradially inclined orientation are tilted when a voltage is applied canbe regulated even without performing rubbing. Liquid crystal domains ofradially inclined orientation can be formed in a pixel area regularlyand stably. Thus, a large viewing angle can be realizedomnidirectionally.

As described above, the present invention can realize a liquid crystaldisplay apparatus having superb display quality with a relatively simplestructure. The present invention is preferably usable for transmissiveliquid crystal display apparatuses and transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatuses (performing both a transmissive mode display and areflective mode display). Especially, a transflective liquid crystaldisplay apparatus is preferably usable as a display device of cellularphone or other mobile devices.

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 USC §119(a) onPatent Applications No. 2003-337993 filed in Japan on Sep. 29, 2003, No.2003-337994 filed in Japan on Sep. 29, 2003 and No. 2004-271827 filed inJapan on Sep. 17, 2004, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising: afirst substrate; a second substrate provided so as to face the firstsubstrate; a vertical alignment type liquid crystal layer providedbetween the first substrate and the second substrate; and a plurality ofpixel areas each including a first electrode provided on the firstsubstrate, a second electrode provided on the second substrate, and theliquid crystal layer provided between the first electrode and the secondelectrode; wherein: the first electrode includes at least two openingsand at least one cut-out portion provided at prescribed positions; andthe liquid crystal layer, when being provided with at least a prescribedvoltage, forms at least two liquid crystal domains each exhibiting aradially inclined orientation, and a central axis of the radiallyinclined orientation of each of the at least two liquid crystal domainsis formed in the at least two openings or in the vicinity thereof.
 22. Aliquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21, furthercomprising a light shielding area between the plurality of pixel areas,and a wall structure regularly arranged on a surface of the firstsubstrate closer to the liquid crystal layer in the light shieldingarea.
 23. A liquid crystal display apparatus according to claim 21,further comprising a light shielding area between the plurality of pixelareas, and a support provided in the light shielding area for definingthe thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
 24. A liquid crystal displayapparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first electrode includes atransparent electrode for defining a transmissive area and a reflectiveelectrode for defining a reflective area, and a thickness dt of theliquid crystal layer in the transmissive area and a thickness dr of theliquid crystal layer in the reflective area fulfill the relationship of0.3 dt<dr<0.7 dt.
 25. A liquid crystal display apparatus according toclaim 24, wherein at least one liquid crystal domain of the at least twoliquid crystal domains is formed in the transmissive area, and the atleast one cut-out portion includes a plurality of cut-out portionsarranged in a point symmetrical manner around an opening correspondingto the central axis of the at least one liquid crystal domain formed inthe transmissive area.
 26. A liquid crystal display apparatus accordingto claim 24, wherein a transparent dielectric layer is selectivelyprovided in the reflective area of the second substrate.
 27. A liquidcrystal display apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the transparentdielectric layer has a function of scattering light.
 28. A liquidcrystal display apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising acolor filter layer provided on the second substrate, wherein an opticalconcentration of the color filter layer in the reflective area issmaller than the optical concentration of the color filter layer in thetransmissive area.
 29. A liquid crystal display apparatus according toclaim 21, further comprising a pair of polarizing plates provided so asto face each other with the first substrate and the second substrateinterposed therebetween, and at least one biaxial optically anisotropicmedium layer provided between the first substrate and/or the secondsubstrate and the pair of polarizing plates.
 30. A liquid crystaldisplay apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a pair ofpolarizing plates provided so as to face each other with the firstsubstrate and the second substrate interposed therebetween, and at leastone uniaxial optically anisotropic medium layer provided between thefirst substrate and/or the second substrate and the pair of polarizingplates.